PAKISTAN (18 February)
Below normal rainfall during October, November and December 2002 was observed in Pakistan. Sindh and Baluchistan provinces are facing drought and Punjab and Sindh provinces are experiencing water shortages for irrigation. Although, heavy rains in February have improved water availability for the current wheat crop. For now, less than normal wheat and other grain production is expected in 2003 similar to the drought affected output level of 2002. Pakistan produced about 19 million tonnes of wheat in 2002, about 3 million tonnes less than the record harvest in 2001. The country has exported 1.6 million tonnes of wheat since April 2001 from the surplus production of 2001.
The coarse grains crop harvested in November 2002, recovered due to good rains in September 2002, is estimated to yield an average production of some 2.1 million tonnes, unchanged from the previous year.
An FAO/WFP Mission visited Balochistan and Sindh provinces from 3 November to 2 December, 2002 to assess the impact of drought on agriculture, livestock and household food security and to identify emergency needs of the affected population. The mission estimated the losses in rain-fed agriculture to be 60 to 100 percent and the number of people in need of emergency food assistance to be 496 000 in the two provinces. Assistance to drought affected populations and to Afghan refugees is being provided through WFP emergency operation.