FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 02/02 - UZBEKISTAN (1 February)
Uzbekistan harvested some 3.7 million tonnes of grains in 2001, which is more than 200 000 below the drought reduced harvest of 2000. Drought and water shortages have compromised crop production for the past two years, in particular the water levels in Amu and Syr rivers were reportedly flowing at 40 percent of the normal levels at crucial cropping seasons. This year’s harvest will again depend on the level of precipitation and water availability in the two main rivers. The worst affected areas for the past two years have been Karakalpakstan and Khorzam autonomous regions, where some 600 000 people required emergency food aid last year, water availability in the Amu river will be critical for this year’s crop production as well.
Cereal import requirements in 2001/02 are estimated at about 1 million tonnes, some 400 000 tonnes higher than the preceding year’s imports. Food aid requirement is estimated at about 121 000 tonnes, including 60 000 tonnes of wheat, 51 000 tonnes of rice and 10 000 tonnes of maize.