Afghanistan's wheat crop looks good

WASHINGTON, April 24 (UPI) -- Agriculture analysts say beneficial rains should lead to a healthier wheat crop in Afghanistan this year, although prices will be lower as well.

A report issued Friday by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network concluded that while Afghanistan's mountain snowpack is less than it was last winter, the March rains were "significantly better" than in 2008, and fell in areas of the north and northwest that had been experiencing a dry spell.

"Taking into consideration all factors, even with the recent uncertainties about the actual amount of rainfall, we assume that food security conditions will be better than in 2008, after the harvest," the report stated.

Pakistan's wheat and rice crops look good as well, which will provide a source of import grains if they are needed, the report said.

Potential problems include late-spring flooding as the snowpack melts and an outbreak of weeds that has been keeping farmers busy in Kunar and Nangarhar. There has also been a dearth of information on possible crop diseases and potential logistical problems in some parts of the country due to a lack of security and instability, the report cautioned.