FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 04/01 - TAJIKISTAN* (22 March)
The outlook for the 2001 cereal harvest remains a cause for concern because of shortages of seed after last year’s drought-reduced crop, the poor state of the irrigation/water management system and inadequate drainage which is causing salination. Satellite imagery indicates that crops have come out of dormancy only in southern areas (Khatlon), where, however, early crop development is less than at the corresponding time last year. A severe drought has reduced the 2000 cereal harvest to 236 000 tonnes, down by 47 percent compared to 1999. Output of all other crops, including potatoes, vegetables and cotton have also been affected.
The severe drought last year has rendered almost half of the 6.2 million people in the country vulnerable to food shortages and donor response to the appeals for food aid have been slow. The cereal import requirement in the 2000/01 marketing year (July/June) is estimated at 792 000 tonnes. After taking into account a projected commercial import of some 403 000 tonnes and pledged food aid of 138 500 tonnes, the uncovered food aid requirement remains at 250 500 tonnes. A shortfall of this magnitude for this impoverished country, if not addressed by the international community, could have serious implications for the population. Many households are already in dire conditions and will find it difficult to bridge the lean season. An estimated 3 million people fall in this category, with about 2 million facing a very difficult situation. The evolving critical food supply, production and access situations need to be monitored carefully with a view to making adjustments to the ongoing assistance programmes and/or designing appropriate new ones.
WFP has launched an appeal for 126 000 tonnes of food aid worth $62 million to implement an emergency operation to assist over one million people who are in serious need of food assistance. The first large scale distributions started in December 2000 and are planned to be ongoing until June 2001. Without adequate assistance, about 1.2 million people will face a very difficult situation with virtually no employment opportunities or other sources of income to purchase food from the market.
Back
to menu