FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops and Shortages 06/02 - RUSSIAN FEDERATION (3 June)
Despite an increase of 1.6 million hectares in area planted to cereals, official estimates indicate a reduction in the cereal harvest by nearly 12 million tonnes in 2002 compared with the bumper harvest in 2001. The wheat harvest this year is seen to total 40.5 million tonnes compared with about 47 million tonnes in 2001, while the barley harvest is expected to decline by 3.5 million tonnes in 2002 compared with last year. In view of high stocks from last year’s bumper crop, cereal exports in 2002/03 marketing year are likely to remain high.
Civil strife and military operation in Chechnya continue to disrupt life and agricultural activities. WFP and some international NGOs continue to provide supplementary food and non-food assistance to internally displaced populations. WFP intends to provide supplementary food assistance to some 310 000 people in Ingushetia and Chechnya. The current emergency programme, which began last January, is expected to continue until the end of October this year, by then some 70 000 tonnes of food would have been distributed to 310 000 internally displaced and vulnerable persons.