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WEEKLY NEWS DOCUMENTS - 04-10-2002 - FAO Document

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	RE: <\pays\eritrea\SREitrea.doc> - 265 KB - WinWord

SPECIAL REPORT - FAO/WFP CROP AND FOOD SUPPLY ASSESSMENT MISSION TO ERITREA
3 October 2002

Mission Highlights

- Prolonged drought conditions have seriously affected agricultural and 
livestock production in 2002.

- Azmera rains (March-June), important for land preparation and 
replenishment of pastures, in key agricultural areas almost totally failed 
and the main Kremti rains (June-September) were late by more than four weeks.

- As a result, cereal production in 2002 is forecast at about 74 000 
tonnes, the lowest level since the country's independence in 1993.

- Pastoralists were seriously affected by the delayed rains, as reports 
indicated that livestock in some sub-regions may have been reduced by up to 
20 percent from their 2001 levels between March and June 2002.

- The cereal import requirement for 2003 is estimated at 413 000 tonnes of 
which about 80 000 tonnes are anticipated to be imported commercially.

- With 50 000 tonnes of food aid expected in the country by the end of 
2002, the uncovered gap is estimated at 283 000 tonnes, but most of this 
could be covered through a combination of informal grain imports, current 
WFP food aid programmes and bilateral donations.

- Of immediate concern are some 1.04 million of the most vulnerable people 
who will require 140 000 tonnes of food aid in 2003.

Emergency support to crop and livestock production is urgently needed to 
revive production capacity for next year.

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