FAO/WFP CROP AND FOOD SUPPLY ASSESSMENT MISSION TO THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA - 24 July 2000

Abstract

Although there are encouraging signs that the relaxation of trade and economic sanctions imposed on DPR Korea and prospects of greater economic interaction with other countries in the region, will undoubtedly have a positive impact on longer term food security in the country, the current food supply situation still remains precarious, particularly amongst vulnerable groups. Approaching its sixth year of food shortages, therefore, the country still requires large scale food assistance to ensure a dequate nutritional standards, especially for children, pregnant women and the elderly. The period between May/June and October is crucial to food supply prospects as it corresponds to the beginning of the lean food supply period, when food stocks are traditionally at their lowest, and also the start of the main crop season on which the country depends heavily for domestic food production. Crop losses, as in 1995 to 1997 due to natural disasters, therefore can have a devastating effect on food a vailability. In view of the importance of this period, a joint FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission visited DPR Korea from 20 June to 1 July, to review the situation in relation to available food supplies, the nutritional health of the population and early prospects for 2000 production. The mission also had an opportunity of reviewing findings of an earlier assessment mission in October last year at the time of the main harvest, at which time a projection was made for food supply pros pects for the 1999/2000 marketing year (Nov/Oct).