Spring planting is underway and the cropping situation is satisfactory to date. Some 80 percent of the population live below the poverty line and 16 percent do not have the means to secure an adequate diet without targeted food aid. To maximize household food security wheat is planted wherever possible. Although the legal basis for privatization of agricultural land has been established, little progress has been made in its implementation. As a result, wheat and other cereals can be planted only on land not reserved for cotton production, and this includes many marginal or uphill areas. Shortages and high prices of all inputs, and the poor state of the irrigation system will keep yields well below potential.
In 1997/98 the cereal import requirement is estimated at nearly 300 000 tonnes and includes a food aid requirement of 137 000 tonnes, including the need for targeted distribution and food for work projects. WFP will continue to serve a caseload of 500 000 persons during 1998 which will require a total of 32 000 metric tonnes of food aid. The resources, under the existing operation, are available to accomplish this but during the second half of the year it will be necessary to mobilize 15 500 metric tonnes of food stuff that would be used in early 1999. Considering the lead time needed to identify donors and effect shipments to the distribution sites inside of Tajikistan, a new WFP relief operation to cover 1999 needs will be finalized by mid-1998.