FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 09/01 - INDIA (4 September)
Most parts of the country have been receiving above- normal monsoon rains since June; the rains have been excessive and resulted in heavy flooding particularly in the eastern states of Orissa and Bihar. According to latest official sources, more than 8.7 million people have been affected in the state of Orissa alone, which was recovering from a devastating cyclone two years ago, while about 2.16 million people have been affected in the state of Bihar. Over 240 000 homes have been damaged or destroyed and 40 000 people left without shelter. An increasing number of victims is reported. Hundreds of villages have been literally submerged by the flood waters from the main rivers, and rice fields have been swamped and crops destroyed. In the mountainous Himachal Pradesh state in the north, in the Hymalayan region, landslides caused by the incessant rains, and consequent casualties are also reported. In early September heavy rains also affected the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, where a number of casualties is reported as well as damage to housing. Relief assistance is being provided by the government and international humanitarian agencies.
Paddy and coarse grains are the main crops currently in the ground for harvest from September. Production figures for 2001/02 are tentative as a detailed assessment of damage to crops has not been made available yet; however, increases in cereal production are tentatively forecast with respect to 2000/01 production year. Paddy output is forecast at about 131 million tonnes (87.8 million tonnes in milled rice equivalent), well above the previous year�s production of 128.8 million tonnes. Maize output is expected to be a nearrecord 12 million tonnes, while production of millet and sorghum is put at 9 million tonnes each. Some 1.5 million tonnes of barley are anticipated.