FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
Rice production in 2015 forecast to decrease for second consecutive year
Cereal imports in 2015/16 (July/June) marketing year anticipated at record level
Rice production in 2015 forecast to decrease for second consecutive year
Harvesting of the 2015 rice crop started in mid-October and will continue until December. FAO forecasts the 2015 rice production at 4.6 million tonnes, 4 percent below last year’s reduced level, as a result of a light contraction in area planted and also yields, following below-average rains over the central and eastern Terai areas, which account for the bulk of rice production at national level.
FAO’s estimate for the main 2015 maize crop, harvested by September, indicates a 7 percent year-on-year decline with an output level of 2 million tonnes. The drop is mainly due to reduced seed and fertilizer availability, following the losses caused by the earthquake in April.
The 2015 winter wheat crop, harvested in June, is estimated by FAO at 1.9 million tonnes, 4 percent below 2014 record level. The year-on-year decrease is mainly attributed to slightly lower yields, following heavy rains in March, which affected the standing crops in the final stages of development.
Cereal imports in 2015/16 marketing year (July/June) anticipated at record level
Cereal imports in the 2015/16 marketing year (July/June) are anticipated to reach a record level of 855 800 tonnes, 35 percent above last year’s high level. Most of this volume is rice, imports of which are anticipated at 640 000 tonnes in 2016, up 14 percent from the previous year’s level, reflecting the reduced 2015 production and sustained demand. Similarly, a lower 2015 maize output is expected to boost imports to 190 000 tonnes from last year’s low level of 50 000 tonnes.
FAO to provide assistance for agriculture rehabilitation
A major earthquake of magnitude 7.8 (Mw) on the Richter Scale struck Central and Western regions of Nepal on 25 April causing widespread destruction. According to the latest official information, at least 9 000 people were confirmed dead and more than 23 000 injured. In order to assess the impact of the earthquake on agriculture, an Agricultural Livelihood Impact Appraisal (ALIA), a Nepal Food Security Cluster exercise led by FAO, was undertaken in the most severely-affected districts, namely Dhading, Dolokha, Gorkha, Nuwakot, Rasuwa and Sindhupalchock. According to the ALIA, the agricultural livelihoods in the most affected districts suffered particularly of high levels of damage, including losses to stored food, agricultural inputs, as well as damages to small-scale irrigation and drainage canals. Most of the population affected by the earthquake is critically dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods and many are vulnerable to food insecurity. As part of the recovery and response effort following the earthquake, FAO has reached over 182 000 vulnerable households in the six districts most severely affected by the earthquake with agricultural inputs, including rice seeds, grain and seed storage, packets of mixed vegetable seeds and animal feed supplements. FAO also aims to provide durable grain and seed storage bags to prevent post-harvest losses and support 2016 winter crop production, through the provision of seeds and reparation of smallscale irrigation infrastructure.