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FAO/WFP CROP AND FOOD SUPPLY ASSESSMENT MISSION TO THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA - 27 July 2001

Year of publication 2001

Author Trade and Markets Division

Product type Book (stand-alone)

Series title Special Reports and Alerts

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Following the coldest winter in decades, DPR Korea was hit by a prolonged severe drought in the spring of 2001. By May, it was clear that the drought had ravaged the winter/spring wheat, barley and potato crops and that the consequent production shortfall would have dire consequences for the food security of the population, particularly in the lean supply months of June to October. This would further aggravate the already precarious food situation caused by successive natural hazards in recent y ears and persistent economic problems facing the country. Against the backdrop of this unfavourable outlook, FAO and WFP jointly mounted a mid-year Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission to DPR Korea in June 2001. The Mission visited the country from 23 June to 3 July to review the food supply situation for the current marketing year (Nov. 2000 to Oct. 2001) and assess early prospects for the 2001 main crops, including paddy, maize, and potatoes. The Mission held discussions with concerned Government authorities, UN and bilateral aid agencies, international NGOs and made field trips to observe standing crop, and irrigation reservoirs in four provinces and one municipality (North and South Hwanghae, North and South Pyongon and Pyongyong). In the field, the Mission interviewed staff of cooperative farms and local Flood Damage Rehabilitation Committees (FDRC) as well as managers of irrigation reservoirs. Vegetation index (NDVI) images at one kilometre resolution from the SPOT-4 sate llite since 1998, which depict vegetation vigour and extent, were used to compare vegetation conditions for the current growing period to those of recent years.

Language English

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