Syria is likely to witness an improved wheat harvest this
year, says the latest Crop
and Food Security Assessment Mission (CFSAM), reports NaijaAgroNet.
CFSAM is a joint effort of the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
According to two agencies, food security in parts of Syria
is slightly better than the same time last year due to an improved security
situation and enhanced access to humanitarian assistance, but the overall
situation remains far worse than before the war, two UN agencies warned.
CFSAM estimates a total wheat production at 1.8 million
tonnes - 12 per cent more than last year's record low but still less than half
of the pre-conflict ten-year average.
The mission's report released today estimates that 6.9
million Syrians are still food insecure while an additional 5.6 million people
are likely to become food insecure without the regular food assistance they
receive every month.
Adam Yao, Acting FAO Representative in Syria, said that for
some Syrian families, there is a small shaft of light in the darkness, despite
the immense challenges, agriculture continues to provide food for the country.
“With the evolving security situation, more farmers are
expected to have access to cultivate their land again. Now is the time to step
up our support, as agriculture is more important than ever for the livelihoods
of many," Yao said.
For WFP Representative and Country Director in Syria, Jakob
Kern, "The small improvement in the availability of food for Syrians is
promising, but the needs remain high. More must be done to provide food for
families affected by the crisis, WFP and FAO are working together to make food
security a reality for the people of Syria."
Access by humanitarian organizations to some besieged areas
has improved compared to last year. Yet access continues to be heavily
constrained in Deir-ez-Zor, where life-saving air-drops of food and other
supplies continue, and in Ar-Raqqa where the situation has become critical due
to continued fighting. In Ar-Raqqa, shops are destroyed and the cost of the
standard food basket has jumped by 42 percent between May and June this year.
Isaac Oyimah/GEE
... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technologyPix: David Beasley, Executive Director, WFP
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