DATE=7/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-252066
TITLE=AFGHAN FOOD (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=SARAH HORNER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS AFGHANISTAN IS FACING ITS WORST
RECORDED FOOD SHORTAGES, LARGELY DUE TO THE LOWEST RAINFALL IN 40
YEARS. AS SARAH HORNER REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD, THIS YEAR'S
CEREAL HARVEST IS EXPECTED TO BE MORE THAN ONE-MILLION TONS SHORT
OF WHAT IS NEEDED.
TEXT: A JOINT MISSION FROM THE U-N'S FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
ORGANIZATION AND THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM SPENT LAST MONTH
ASSESSING AFGHANISTAN'S 1999 CEREAL [GRAIN] HARVEST. CEREAL IS
NEEDED TO MAKE BREAD, THE MAINSTAY OF THE AFGHAN DIET.
AT A PRESS BRIEFING IN THE PAKISTANI CAPITAL, ISLAMABAD, THE HEAD
OF THE U-N'S WORLD FOOD PROGRAM IN AFGHANISTAN, MIKE SACKETT,
SAID MORE THAN ONE-MILLION AFGHANS FACE DIRECT SHORTAGES DUE TO
THE CEREAL DEFICIT.
IN ADDITION, MR. SACKETT SAYS, TWO-AND-ONE-HALF-MILLION AFGHANS
LIVING IN CITIES ARE ALSO AT RISK. HE SAYS A SCARCITY OF WHEAT
WILL PUSH UP FOOD PRICES. MR. SACKETT SAYS NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN,
WHICH NORMALLY PRODUCES MORE FOOD THAN IT NEEDS, WILL THIS YEAR
HARVEST A THIRD LESS THAN IT NORMALLY DOES.
/// SACKETT ACT ///
THE PEOPLE WHO WE ARE TARGETING IN THE YEAR 2000 ARE A
MINIMUM OF ABOUT ONE-POINT-TWO-MILLION. I SHOULD ALSO
SAY THAT THE URBAN CENTERS SUCH AS KABUL AND
MAZAR-I-SHARIF ALSO GIVE US CONSIDERABLE CONCERN,
BECAUSE THEY RELY ON FOOD WHICH IS BOUGHT IN THE MARKET,
AND BECAUSE OF THE COLLAPSE OF THE ECONOMY PEOPLE FIND
IT VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND THE MONEY TO BUY THEIR BASIC
NEEDS.
/// END ACT ///
THE U-N TEAM DISCOVERED THAT GENERALLY THIS YEAR'S CEREAL HARVEST
IN AFGHANISTAN IS FORECAST TO BE 16-PERCENT LOWER THAN LAST
YEAR'S. A DETAILED REPORT FROM THE MISSION SAYS A STRONG
RECOVERY OF THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR IN 1998 HAS BEEN SET BACK BY
THE MILDEST AFGHAN WINTER IN 40-YEARS.
AFGHANISTAN DEPENDS TO A LARGE EXTENT ON MELTING SNOWS TO
PROVIDE IRRIGATION WATER. LAST WINTER'S VERY LOW SNOWFALL, AND
LATE AND ERRATIC SPRING RAINS, HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS SHORTAGE IN
THE SUPPLY OF THIS WATER.
THE REPORT SAYS THE PROBLEM IS COMPOUNDED BY AN INCREASE IN
INSECT DAMAGE TO HARVESTS, AND BY THE INCREASE IN CASH CROPS. IT
SAYS MORE AND MORE LAND, PREVIOUSLY USED FOR WHEAT, IS BEING USED
TO GROW ONION, POTATO AND OPIUM POPPY AS THESE ARE MORE
PROFITABLE.
MR. SACKETT SAYS AFGHANISTAN NEEDS MORE THAN A MILLION TONS OF
CEREALS TO OFFSET THE FOOD DEFICIT. HE SAYS HE HOPES FUNDING FOR
IMPORTS WILL BE FORTHCOMING FROM THE AID COMMUNITY.
/// SACKETT ACT ///
THIS REPORT HAS ALREADY BEEN SHARED WITH DONORS. THEY
HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION. PROVIDED WE GET
THE DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS, WE ARE CONFIDENT OF GETTING THE
FOOD THERE WHEN IT IS REQUIRED.
/// END ACT ///
TWO DECADES OF WAR HAVE LARGELY DESTROYED AFGHANISTAN'S
INFRASTRUCTURE, AND MANY OF THE COUNTRY'S 20-MILLION PEOPLE
DEPEND ON OUTSIDE HELP FOR THEIR DAY-TO-DAY SURVIVAL. (SIGNED)
NEB/SH/ENE-T/WTW
23-Jul-99 9:28 AM EDT (1328 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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