Over-expansion of the areas sown to wheat has led to partial crop failure in 1996. In an attempt to achieve self- sufficiency in wheat, the area planted of cereals has been expanded to nearly 700 000 hectares in 1996, from around 187 000 hectares in 1990. Average wheat yields, however, have declined steadily since 1994 as additional marginal land, with inadequate irrigation, was brought into production while investment in farm machinery, spare parts and inputs declined and compulsory deliveries of virtually the entire crop to the state at low, fixed prices offered few incentives to farmers to increase yields. In 1996, the average yield of wheat roughly halved to less than 1 ton per hectare as a result of inadequate irrigation, extremely late planting and very little fertilizer application. The aggregate output of cereals in 1996 is officially estimated at only 400 000 tons, compared to 1 million tons in 1995. For 1997, the wheat area target has been reduced from 600 000 hectares to 400 000 hectares. . In 1996/97, the cereal consumption requirement is estimated at 1.26 million tons and includes nearly 650 000 tons for human consumption, while feed use and other uses of cereals is expected to contract by almost 350 000 tons to some 500 000 tons as foreign exchange and budget constraints limit the amount of subsidized bread that can be provided. Following the partial failure of the wheat harvest and a poor cotton harvest, the country has requested assistance in the form of concessional credits or food aid in wheat to help cover the 1996/97 cereal import requirement estimated at between 500 000 and 700 000 tons.