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FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
- Concerns for production of 2023 main season crops due to erratic rains and unfavourable weather forecasts
Concerns for production of 2023 main season crops due to erratic rains and unfavourable weather forecasts
Planting of the 2023 main season crops (wheat, barley, sorghum, maize, teff and pulses), for harvest from November, has been concluded in July in central and western Anseba, Debub, Maekel and Gash Barka regions.
The 2023 “Kiremti” rainy season, which normally extends from late June to September, had an early onset, with abundant rains received in the first half of June. Subsequently, rains were below-average between mid-June and mid-July over most key cropping areas (see Precipitation Anomaly map in the PDF). Current vegetation conditions are above-average due to the moisture surpluses accumulated in the first half of June, but they may rapidly deteriorate if rains continue at below-average levels.
According to the latest weather forecast by the Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum (GHACOF), the remainder of the “Kiremti” rainy season is expected to be characterized by below-average rainfall amounts over most cropping areas, with a likely negative impact on yields. Rainfall performance in the next weeks will be crucial for crop development and a close monitoring is warranted.