Agricultural activities throughout the country continue to be hindered by shortages of agricultural inputs, damage to the irrigation system and insecurity. Prospects for the 1997 winter crops are therefore uncertain. The 1996 aggregate output of wheat and barley is unofficially estimated at a below-normal 1.85 million tons.

A Consolidated United Nations Inter-Agency Appeal for Emergency Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Assistance to Afghanistan, valued at US$ 133 million, has been launched to cover the period 1 January to 31 December 1997. The Appeal includes three major areas: nation-wide programmes, that respond to immediate needs across the country, including basic relief activities, mine clearance, assistance to the disabled, repatriation, immunization and narcotics control; regional programmes that respond to priority needs in deprived areas, including the provision of safe water and sanitation, primary health care, shelter, basic urban and rural recovery and income-generation opportunities; mechanisms to assess and monitor aid programmes to ensure that they meet their aims while conforming to international norms under which humanitarian partners operate.

The import requirement for cereals in 1996/97, mostly wheat, is forecast at about 1.5 million tons. Expected cereal food aid deliveries for 1996/97 amount to about 150 000 tons, of which 140 000 tons have been delivered.