Cereal crop largest in two decades

Afghanistan’s cereal crop for 2003 will be the largest in two decades, according to The Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission carried out by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP). Yet many people will remain reliant on humanitarian assistance, according to a joint report by the FAO and WFP found. "In spite of relatively wide use of improved varieties [of seeds] and fertilisers, the majority of Afghan farmers are far from reaching self-sufficiency in food production and labour opportunities that could permit access to food," Antonio di Leonardo, the FAO emergency coordinator, told IRIN from the capital, Kabul, on Thursday. 5.37 million mt of cereal were expected to be harvested, the report said. It is thought that there will be a yield of 4.36 million mt of wheat, 410,000 mt of barley, 310,000 mt of maize and 291,000 mt of milled rice. This is 50 percent higher than the crop yielded last year, according to the report. FAO believes access to fertiliser and seeds, the control of a locust outbreak, and adequate rainfalls have all contributed to the successful season. "FAO emergency operations have contributed to the improvement of yields and production through the direct provision of more than 4,000 tonnes of improved seeds, along with the matching quantities of fertilisers," di Leonardo said, adding that the distributions had targeted the poorest farmers, enabling them to increase the area planted and obtain a greater harvest. The report also said that in 2003 land used for the planting of cereals had increased by 27 percent as compared to 2002. Provinces in the south and southwest of Afghanistan have, however, not been as lucky, with no sign of a break in drought conditions. In the south, food security would only improve nominally, the report said. This was largely due to continuing conflict, high cereal prices and little relief from the drought. In the central highlands and the northeastern province of Badakhshan, a large proportion of households would still be relying on relief assistance to survive, it said. "There are still pockets of crop failures in many parts of the country, especially in the southern regions, where the drought that began hitting the country in 1999 has not shown signs of lessening," di Leonardo commented. The conflicts that have raged through Afghanistan for over two decades, and the return of refugees are pivotal contributors to food insecurity for many households. "A large percentage of the huge numbers of displaced families are farmers. It is estimated that since early 2002 about 3.5 million have returned. They are usually missing the basic tools to resume normal agricultural activities," di Leonardo said. The report, entitled "FAO Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture World Food Programme", found the most vulnerable groups relying on food aid to be the unemployed and landless, returning refugees, and households headed by women. The report highlighted the fact that the problem was exacerbated by the debt burden carried over from previous drought years, and the increase in the cost of living. There is currently about 114,000 mt of food aid in stock. The report stated that if additional food stocks were needed, they would be accessed locally, adding, that the timing and quantities of grains purchased from local markets would be examined so as not to inflate grain prices, which would adversely affect the consumer. "The provision of seed and fertiliser is the best way to rapidly support these vulnerable groups in reaching self-reliance. FAO plans to maintain its relief assistance, as well as assist the government of Afghanistan in developing the agricultural sector with the final goal of attaining food self-sufficiency," said di Leonardo.