FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 04/02 - PAKISTAN (12 April)
Harvesting is underway of the 2001/02 wheat crop planted in October/December 2001. The bulk of the wheat is irrigated, but about 15 to 20 percent of the crop is rainfed. The area planted is estimated to have decreased to 8.3 million hectares, mainly due to shortage of irrigation water. As a result, the estimated output of 19.2 million tonnes in 2002 is lower than the 20.0 million tonnes planned, and the 2000 record wheat production of 21.1 million tonnes.
Rice production is estimated at 3.5 million tonnes (milled), about one million tonnes below the previous season. This reflects shortages of irrigation water and a consequent combination of a lower area planted and lower yields. Tentatively, an output of 3.5 million tonnes of rice (milled) is forecast. The output of coarse grains harvested in September/October 2001 is estimated at 2.1 million tonnes.
Pakistan, traditionally an exporter of rice and an importer of wheat, emerged as a wheat exporter in 2000/01. Despite the lower production in 2002, large carryover stocks will enable the country to remain a net exporter in wheat in 2002/03 (May/April), but at a lower level. Reflecting reduced poor paddy harvest in 2001, rice exports in 2002 are tentatively expected to decrease to some 1.5 million tonnes, from 2.4 million tonnes exported in 2001.
However, large groups of vulnerable people, notably farmers without access to irrigation, livestock owners in drought stricken pastoral areas and smallholder fruit producers who have lost up to 60 percent of their trees need food and other assistance. On 22 March 2002, a WFP Emergency Operation was approved for food assistance to drought affected persons in Balochistan and Sindh provinces. The Operation will provide 20 500 tonnes of cereals and other food to 343 000 targeted individuals in the two provinces.