AFGHANISTAN CROP UPDATE: PRECIPITATION PATTERNS AND FIELD ACTIVITY, MARCH 15-31 1987

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90T00114R000404550001-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 7, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: April 16, 1987
• Content Type: REPORT

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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/07: CIA-RDP90TO0114R000404550001-0
DATE 2 / L, F 7
Central Intelligence Agency
DOC NO Cr 14 >7-dooS6
OIR 3
P & PD I
b shiVon.D.C.20505
DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE
16 April 1987
Afghanistan Crop Update: Preci itation Patterns and
Field Activity, March 15-31 1987
summary
our analysis of meteorological satellite imagery and weather reports
during the period 15-31 March 1987 indicates precipitation has continued to
fall over all but the southernmost Provinces in Afghanistan. - Field work
continues throughout the country and, in general, the agricultural tuation
in Afghanistan appears to be normal for this stage of the crap year.
This memorandum was prepared byl Ithe Agricultural
Assessments Branch, Strategic Resources Division, Office of Global Issues.
The information contained herein is updated to 31 March 1987. Conic nts may be
directed to Chief, Agricultural Assessments Branch, Strategic
Resources Division,
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/07: CIA-RDP90TO0114R000404550001-0
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/07: CIA-RDP90TO0114R000404550001-0
reports of heavy snowfall (15 to 20 inches) in the Salang region.
Precipitation Patterns and Amounts: 15-31 March 1987
During late March, precipitation continued to fall throughout
Afghanistan. Significant amounts of snow fell in the Northern provinces and in
the mountains north of Kabul. In addition, Maymanah in Faryab Province reported
large amounts of rainfall in mid-March, as well as--and more significantly for
crops--regular precipitation for the remainder of the month. Faryab Province
has been identified as the epicenter of the 1971-72 drought, and precipitation
there is being viewed by some analysts as a key to predicting the possibilities
for another drought this year. Finally, not included in these statistics are
MM Precipitation
March 1987
MARCH TOTALS
15-YEAR
1987
MEAN
LOCATION/DATE 15
18
20
21
22
24
25
27
28
29
30
31
r'EYZABAl)
U
12
U
U
U
U
U
3
29
93
MAYMANAH
29
1
3
4
4
0
0
4
12
8
1
1
88
83
HERAT
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
4
5
43
KABUL
16
2
7
0
11
2
8
0
11
8
3
107
73
GHAZNI
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
0
3
5
10
22
40
63
QANDAHAR
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
1
1
22
These data reflect precipitation reported by Afghanistan weather stations
and should be considered minimum data. Weather stations in Afghanistan are
required to report precipitation every 12 hours, but they only take
observations during one of those 12-hour periods. Consequently, it is very
likely that actual precipitation amounts could exceed those reported. F_~
Work in Afghanistan's farmlands continues, including in dry lands and in
areas not served by the country's extensive irrigation system. Farmers are
plowing and sowing throughout most of the country. Moreover, water levels in
irrigation systems are rising and should provide sufficient moisture for this
year's growing season. This is significant because stations reporting little
precipitation--Herat, Qandahar, Feyzabad--are in areas served by these
irrigation systems, by rivers or by precipitation that was not reported.
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/07: CIA-RDP90TO0114R000404550001-0
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/07: CIA-RDP90T00114R000404550001-0
- 0GI/EXS/PG
- CPAS/IMC/CB (1 copy annotated as
- CPAS/ISS
- D/OGI, DD/OGI
- C/OGI/SRD
- C OGI SRD AAB
Field Activity, March 15-31 1987
SUBJECT: Afghanistan Crop Update: Precipitation Patterns and
OGI/SRD/AAB,
1 - SA/DDCI
1 - ExDir
1 - DDI
1 - DDI PES
Distribution:
1 - Robert Peck, State
(16 April 1987)
1 - ~DD/SOVA
1 - /Afghan Branch/NESA
(OGI/SRD/AAB)
to sources)-/
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/07: CIA-RDP90T00114R000404550001-0