FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT

• The planting of winter crops has been completed and the planted area has increased slightly

• Crop production in 2012 was significantly reduced due to unfavourable weather conditions

• About half of all food consumed domestically comes from imports

• The prices of staple products increased to record levels

The planting of winter crops has been completed and the planted area has increased slightly

Despite a very slow start, the sowing of winter crops has now been completed. Moreover, the planted area has increased by about 5 percent. During the planting season there was shortage of seeds and the Russian Federation supplied around 20 000 tonnes of seed as humanitarian aid.

Crop production in 2012 was significantly reduced due to unfavourable weather conditions

Due to unfavourable weather conditions – specifically high temperatures combined with below-average precipitation during spring and summer months – the country’s annual cereal output fell significantly (by 17 percent). The largest decrease – by almost one third – was in wheat. Preliminary official estimates of total cereal production in 2012 are put at 1.3 million tonnes, half of which is wheat. Total production is 18 percent below the five-year-average and wheat production is 30 percent lower. Also, yields declined by 15 and 25 percent respectively. Maize production is estimated to be close to last year’s levels or about 450 000 tonnes.