Light rainfall and snow breaks dry spell

Tajikistan received rain and snow overnight on Monday and throughout Tuesday, the first break in the weather in more than three weeks. Despite forecasts by the Tajik meteorological service that the snow would continue to fall in the mountains until 18 January, experts believed it would not be enough to have any impact on crop production.

The Tajik Ministry of Agriculture reported this week that with two more weeks of no rain and dry conditions, all winter crops would fail. Meanwhile, WFP told IRIN on Tuesday it did not have enough food in the country right now to cover the needs of 1.13 million people.

Officer in charge for WFP, Roman Sirois, told IRIN in the Tajik capital Dushanbe that although the rain and snow was welcomed it was only patchy and much more was needed for it to have an impact on the next harvest. UN officials and international organisations have expressed concern at the mild winter Tajikistan was experiencing. A light covering of snow on the mountains would mean little water on the ground for the coming season.