Upland rural households, which depend on rainfed agriculture, are amongst the most vulnerable. The purpose of this assessment was to identify and target the areas and farm communities worst affected and to assess the impact of the drought on their resources and assets, principally livestock and seeds for planting in the next season. The areas with the highest losses are mainly in mountainous zones harbouring the economically most vulnerable communities, which rely heavily on livestock as their main source of subsistence and modest cash income. Where winter wheat is the main crop, the crop losses are expected to constitute 65 percent of anticipated production, while barley losses were estimated at 74 percent. Pastures have been devastated and already the effects on milk production are evident.
Potatoes are a food staple in the poorer upland rainfed areas worst affected by the drought.
The availability of seed potatoes for sowing in the spring is a key concern. Donor assistance is urgently needed to ensure that farming household have enough seed potato, otherwise recovery in production will be seriously jeopardized. This report is prepared on the responsibility of the FAO Secretariat with information from official and unofficial sources.