FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 11/01 - IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF (6 November)

IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF (6 November)

This year's drought has affected 20 of 28 provinces in the country. Water is currently being rationed in most major cities, including the capital, Tehran. However, the earlier production forecast of 7.5 million tonnes of wheat for 2001 is expected to be realized and the Rural Cooperative Organization has purchased around 4.7 million metric tonnes of wheat from local farmers so far during the current marketing year. This is, however, much below the five-year average of 9.7 million tonnes.

Official estimates suggested that due to continuing drought conditions for three consecutive years, the 2001 rice harvest is expected to be 2.2 million tonnes (1.4 million tonnes on milled basis), down 4 percent from last year. Rice production has successively declined for the past three years, due to shortage of irrigation water, reducing plantings.

As a consequence of worsening humanitarian situation in the neighbouring Afghanistan, UNHCR estimates about 400 000 more people could seek refuge in the Islamic Republic of Iran in addition to more than 2 million already in the country. To reduce the number to manageable levels, the government is reported to be setting up camps inside Afghanistan along its 900 km long border.

Current estimates indicate wheat imports at around 7 million tonnes in 2001/02 (April/March).