FAO/WFP CROP AND FOOD SUPPLY ASSESSMENT MISSION TO AFGHANISTAN - 7 July 1999
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Following similar Missions in 1997 and 1998, an FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission, supported by UNDP, was fielded to Afghanistan from 22 May-23 June 1999 to estimate the 1999 cereal harvest and cereal import requirement, including food aid needs, for 1999/2000. The Mission visited Kabul and Herat regions, while WFP-funded six survey teams of national agronomists covered most of the accessible regions of the country, including Faizabad, Jalalabad, Kabul, Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-i- Sharif. The Mission benefited from discussions with UN agencies, multilateral and bilateral donors, Afghan authorities, ICRC and many NGOs. Available relevant reports and documents were reviewed. Area and yield estimates for various crops in different regions were based on field visits, data generated by survey teams, and discussions with farmers and UN and NGO personnel knowledgeable about particular regions and areas. Relative peace in most parts of Afghanistan, in recent years, has bolst ered agricultural activities and local trade with increased private sector participation. However, the country's cereal production suffered a setback in 1999, compared to the very strong recovery in 1998, due to shortage of irrigation water as a result of the mildest winter in 40 years with very low snowfall, late and erratic spring rains and high incidence of yellow rust and sunnpest that damaged crops in the north and west of the country. In addition, there is a trend in gradually diverting ir rigated wheat land to such cash crops as onion, potato, poppy, and tree crops, particularly almonds and apricots.