FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops and Shortages 06/02 - PAKISTAN (4 June)
The main current agricultural activities include the completion of the harvesting of the 2002 wheat crop and the planting of the paddy and coarse grain crops. Latest official estimates indicate production of wheat at some 19 million tonnes. Although this is below the target of 20 million tonnes, as a result of less area sown and lower yields following shortage of irrigation water, it is still almost 3 percent above average.
Paddy production is tentatively forecast at about 5 million tonnes, lower than both previous year (5.6 million tonnes) and average. The area planted is expected to decline for the second consecutive year as severe shortage of irrigation water forced growers to switch to other somewhat less water demanding crops. The output of coarse grains in 2001, mostly maize, is estimated at 2.1 million tonnes, and a similar production is provisionally forecast for 2002.
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.