Syria's wheat output seen falling

Syria's wheat output is expected to fall further this year after last year's harvest was 37 percent below average, hit by a civil war that has raged for two years, the United Nations' food agency said. The Food and Agriculture Organisation's (FAO) emergency arm said Syria's wheat harvest had fallen to 2.3 million tonnes in 2012 from 3.6 million in an average year and that even less output is expected for the harvest in June and July 2013.
It is seeking $41.7 million to help farmers as part of the United Nations' revised humanitarian aid plan for Syria launched on Friday, which calls for some $1.4 billion before the end of the year. FAO said the funding must be secured by August to be able to supply farmers with fertiliser and seeds to plant by October for next year's harvest. It added that funding was also needed to provide veterinary support for animals, improve access to food and restore vital infrastructure.