FAO triples appeal for aid

Mizzima News

Friday, 18 July 2008 22:21

New Delhi - The United Nations food agency on Thursday stepped up its appeal for aid to US$ 33.5 million for farmers in Burma's main rice producing region devastated by Cyclone Nargis, since 75 per cent of the farmers in the area do not have seeds necessary for the paddy sowing season. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said it needed to increase the aid appeal to help farmers in Burma's Irrawaddy delta, where the production of rice is likely to plummet up to one-third this year. FAO had earlier appealed for US$ 10 million in aid. The FAO said the stepped up appeal for aid is to help cyclone-affected households in restoring their livelihood and to resume food production during this crucial period. "With a reduced rice harvest unlikely to meet the needs of the affected population, food security will depend on providing support to farming households with alternative crop strategies," said Anne M. Bauer, Director, FAO Emergency Operations and Rehabilitation Division, in a statement released on Thursday. Beside leaving 138,000 dead and missing, the UN agency said, Cyclone Nargis had flooded over 783 000 hectares (1.9 million acres) of rice paddy fields and destroyed nearly 90 per cent of seed stocks. "Present yield rates, coupled with the loss of draught animals and power tillers, indicate a reduction of 550 000 tonnes in paddy harvest, or 32 percent of production in the most-affected areas," FAO said. The cyclone also affected more than 100,000 fishermen, with significant losses of boats and fishing gear and destroyed more than 21 000 hectares of aquaculture ponds. "Vulnerable groups requiring immediate assistance include over 50 000 small-scale farming households and 99,000 landless rural households," FAO said.  < Prev   Next >