Food security concerns persist due to below-average February to May rains

• Rainfall since late March and April has improved water and pasture availability in the major Belg/Gu/Genna-benefiting areas in the eastern half of the country, but rains started very late in these areas as there was almost no rain in February and early March. The overall performance of Belg harvests in the cropping areas is highly likely to be much below normal to near total failure causing food security concerns throughout the May to September scenario period.

• Below-normal to a complete failure of the Belg harvests are expected in the Belg-growing zones of Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region (SNNPR). These include the major sweet potato growing zones of Wolayita, Kembata, Gamu Gofa, and parts of Hadiya along with the dominantly Belg-growing, southern special woredas.

• Staple cereal prices have been relatively stable since March following unusual upward movements in the first two months of the year. Prices remain at highly elevated levels. However, increases are observed in some areas in SNNPR such as Konso and Wolyaita as well as in parts of Borena zone of Oromia.
  Following the seasonal trends, additional increases in prices are expected beginning in May affecting food access among poor households in both rural and urban areas.