RUSSIAN FEDERATION ( 3 February)
Area under winter cereals is more than 7 percent lower this year compared with 2002. In addition, severe cold weather in December and insufficient snow cover have compromised large areas of winter grains and winter crops are reportedly in critical condition. FAO, therefore, tentatively estimates aggregate cereal harvest at 75.5 million tonnes in 2003, which is about 9.6 million tonnes less than the harvest in 2002. The aggregate cereal harvest in 2003 includes some 42.5 million tonnes of wheat, 17.7 million tonnes of barley, 5 million tonnes of rye, 7.5 million tonnes of oats and about 1.6 million tonnes of maize. During the past two years Russia has witnessed significantly improved grain harvest. Cereal exports during the current marketing year are estimated at 13 million tonnes, including 10 million tonnes of wheat and 3 million tonnes of barley.
The internally displaced and vulnerable population in Chechnya continues to require food aid and other assistance. WFP has began distributing an estimated 34 000 tonnes of basic food commodities to some 290 500 internally displaced and vulnerable population in Chechnya and Ingushetia. This EMOP is expected to be completed by the end of December 2003.