GIEWS Update - The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, 3 February 2015

Year of publication2015

AuthorFAO

PublisherFAO

Other entities involved Joint Research Centre of the European Commission; MARS

AbstractAfter increasing markedly for three consecutive years, food production remained stagnant in 2014 with the aggregate output put at 5.94 million tonnes (including cereals, soybeans and potatoes in cereal equivalent). This figure comprises the official estimate of the 2014 main harvest and forecast for the 2015 early crops from cooperative farms, as well as FAO projections of production from sloping land and household gardens. Paddy production dropped by about 10 percent due to reduced irrigation water availability, following low precipitation in the winter and dry spells during the 2014 main season. However, this decline was compensated by a significant increase in maize output, as a result of mass mobilization of people to water maize plants. Production of the 2014/15 early season potatoes and minor wheat and barley crops, to be harvested from next June, is forecast to fall considerably. The total utilization needs for the 2014/15 marketing year (November/October) are set by FAO at 5.49 million tonnes of cereal equivalent and the cereal import requirement is estimated at 407 000 tonnes. The Government is expected to import 300 000 tonnes of cereals, leaving an uncovered deficit of 107 000 tonnes for the current marketing year. This gap is larger than in 2013/14 partly as a result of revised post-harvest losses. With a stagnant harvest in 2014, the food security situation in 2014/15 is likely to remain similar to that of the previous marketing year, with most households estimated to have borderline and poor food consumption rates.

 

Product typeNewsletter

SeriesGIEWS - Updates

CountryDemocratic People's Republic of Korea

RegionAsia and the Pacific

ISSN2707-1723

Areas of workGlobal Information and Early Warning System

KeywordsProduction; cereals; soybeans; potatoes; maize; rice paddy; precipitations; imports; food security; Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.