Pakistan. Wheat planting season: FAO asks world community for more funds
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has asked international community to give more funds as wheat planting season is fast approaching in Pakistan where floods have destroyed country's most of the wheat seed stocks. Wheat, is staple food of the country, which is planted from September to November and more than half a million tonnes of wheat seed stocks have been destroyed by the floods, said a FAO report released here on Wednesday.
"Unless people get seeds over the next few weeks they will not be able to plant wheat for a year," said Daniele Donati, Chief, FAO Emergency Operations, Asia, Europe and Special Emergencies. "Food aid alone will not be enough. If the next wheat crop is not salvaged, the food security of millions will be at risk, he added." Wheat farmers in Pakistan were in the process of preparing their land for planting when the floods began and in some areas the fertile top layer of soil has been washed away, making planting impossible. In other areas, the land is still waterlogged or covered in silt and needs to be cleared. However, this is not the case everywhere.
"In many areas it will be possible to plant as soon as the water recedes. FAO and its cluster partners have the capacity to get seed to these areas provided we receive funding. But the window of opportunity is closing as the planting season ends in mid November," said Donati.
"FAO has completed procurement for the provision of seeds to 200,000 farming families. If additional funding is committed soon, FAO will be able to provide seeds to an additional 200,000 farming families", he added. Early estimates show that 3.6 million hectares of standing maize, rice, sugar cane and cotton crops were destroyed in the floods that have displaced millions of people.
In addition, an estimated 1.2 million livestock and six million poultry were lost in the flooding. It is estimated that over one million buffalo, cattle, sheep and goats owned by households in the flooded areas will now face starvation if animal feed is not provided urgently.
Animals also need immediate vaccination for diseases like foot-and-mouth disease with people and herds on the move as they flee the flooded areas the disease would spread quickly. FAO and its partners are in the process of procuring animal feed and vaccines to reach over 40,000 livestock-owning households. With additional funding, FAO could reach a further 85,000 households with vital inputs for animal feed and veterinary care.
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