DUSHANBE, February 13, 2009, Asia-Plus — 32 countries, including Tajikistan, are currently in crisis requiring external assistance, FAO’s latest Crop Prospects and Food Situation report said.
The report says early indications point to a reduction in global cereal output in 2009 from the previous year’s record. Smaller plantings and/or adverse weather look likely to bring grain production down in most of the world’s major producers. In low-Income food-deficit countries, prospects for the early 2009 cereal crops point to a lower output. Prices of food staples remain at high levels in several developing countries. In some countries where they have decreased following improved 2008 cereal outputs and lower international cereal prices, they are, however, well above their levels a year earlier.
Food crises persist in 32 countries around the world.
According to the report, the main reasons for the food crisis situation in Tajikistan are winter crop damage, poor market access and locusts. In Tajikistan, widespread poor access to food has been exacerbated by a drought-reduced cereal crop in 2008 for the second year in succession. Reflecting the poor harvest, the cereal import requirement is estimated to be a high 560 000 tons. The country is having difficulties mobilizing cereal supplies commercially and food aid will be necessary to bring relief to the poor, the report said.
In the meantime, in a report released at a press conference in Dushanbe, Economic Development and trade Minister Ghulomjon Bobozoda noted on January 29 that the present food situation in the country remains stable and there are no serious problems with providing the country with basic food products. The minister added that last year, Tajikistan produced 942,500 tons of grains and more than 500,000 tons of flour and 250,000 tons of grains were imported from other countries. These figures exceed Tajikistan’s annual rational requirements in grains by 1.3 percent, according to him. “In 2008, the government allocated 20 million somoni for formation of the state reserve of flour, while this year, the government has earmarked 50 million somoni for the state flour reserve,” said Bobozoda said. “Besides, there is an agreement with the Kazakh government on supplying $4 million worth of wheat to Tajikistan this year.”
