Asia > Southern Asia > Afghanistan > Current wheat harvest below last year’s record level (24/10/2010)

Afghanistan: Current wheat harvest below last year’s record level (24/10/2010)

2010/10/24

Current wheat harvest below last year’s record level

Winter wheat harvest was completed in May-June and the spring wheat is currently being gathered. The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) has forecast 2010 wheat production at 4.53 million tonnes, about 11 percent below last year’s record crop but some 15 percent above average. About 68 percent of the production comes from the 46 percent of area under irrigation. According to the MAIL Report this reasonably good harvest was due to the generally satisfactory rainfall distribution, especially in the beginning and the later part of the season, increased use of improved seeds and fertilizers and timely control of pests and diseases. A significant increase in the area planted with fruit trees has been reported. The overall conditions of cereal and horticultural crops, as well as animal health and animal production are satisfactory.

In 2009 wheat harvest almost doubled from the drought affected output of 2008. An expansion in area planted due to the successful poppy cultivation reduction program, favourable weather conditions and increased use of agricultural inputs.

Total cereal output for 2010, is estimated at 5.9 million tonnes (including rice in paddy terms) some 10 percent below the bumper crop of 2009. Consequently imports of wheat and rice for 2010/11 marketing year (July/June) are expected to decline. However, in spite of favourable harvests, cereal imports during 2009/10 were over 2.5 million tonnes, possibly for stock building purposes.
Wheat prices have risen in recent months after having declined from June 2008

Prices of wheat and wheat flour that had steadily declined for two consecutive years increased in most urban markets in July and August, The average price of wheat in August at AFN 15.2/kg was 9 percent above its July level. Prices of wheat flour in most border city markets has shown larger increases in response to the recent crisis due to flooding in neighbouring Pakistan, At the current levels, wheat prices are still below the levels of August 2009 and 2008 but an average 7 percent higher than in the pre-crisis period of January-October 2007.
Pockets of food insecurity remain despite

On the whole, following two successive bumper wheat harvests, large carry-over stocks, reduced wheat imports requirements in 2010/11 (July/June) and satisfactory export availabilities in Kazakhstan and Pakistan, the national wheat supply situation in Afghanistan is expected to remain satisfactory in marketing year 2010/11 (July/June). However, given the continuing low purchasing power due to long standing conflicts, erosion of incomes and assets, pockets of food insecurity exist in the country.

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