FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 04/01 - KOREA, DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF* (23 March)

KOREA, DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF* (23 March)

There are renewed concerns regarding the food supply situation in the county following the widespread effects of the coldest winter in decades. In mid-January temperatures are reported to have fallen to the lowest levels recorded in 50 years. The cold weather conditions continued almost to the last dekad of February, after which temperatures increased to allow land preparations for double cropping. The earlier start to the season is in contrast to 2000 when cold temperatures prevented agricultural operations till mid- March. Due to the very cold conditions this year, the incidence of pests is likely to be lower. However, given erratic climatic conditions generally in the Asia region the situation still remains uncertain.

The food supply situation for the majority of the population still remains extremely difficult, especially as they have already had to endure years of serious food shortages. Cereal provision through domestic resources is reported to have ceased in January with supplies currently only through bilateral food assistance.

Last November, an FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission, assessed domestic grain availability, in cereal equivalent, for the 2000/01 marketing year at 2.92 million tonnes compared to grain demand for food and other utilisation needs of 4.79 million tonnes. The cereal import requirement, therefore, was estimated at 1.87 million tonnes, of which commercial imports were anticipated to cover 200 000 tonnes, whilst a further 810 000 tonnes of the import requirement has been pledged as food assistance through WFP and 500 000 tonnes more through bilateral concessional imports. Taking these into account, the uncovered import requirement is estimated at 360 000 tonnes, which needs to be covered by additional food assistance in order for the country to meet minimum food needs until end-October 2001.

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