Afghanistan requests for extra food supplies

Kabul, Jan 5: Concerned that the problem of wheat shortage might aggravate during the winter, Afghanistan has appealed to the international community for extra supplies of wheat.

Afghanistan is partially dependent on imports of wheat. Afghanistan Commerce Minister Mohammad Amin Farhang said the shortage could lead to serious problems during the winter, reported the BBC. Farhang made his comment in an interview with a German newspaper. "The situation is serious," he said.

There is increasing discontent in Afghanistan at the spiralling cost of wheat and other basic food.

Helmand is one of the worst-affected areas, reportedly due to farmers switching from growing wheat to the more lucrative opium poppy.

Besides, Kabul has come under increasing pressure due to rising grain prices on the international market and reduction in wheat shipments from Pakistan following political crisis there after former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto"s assassination.

Some people alleged that wheat is being smuggled out of Afghanistan to neighbouring Tajikistan.

Moreover, worsening security limits the amount of aid getting to violence-torn southern provinces.

ANI