Ethiopia: Agency predicts low rainfall in drought stricken areas

ESAT News (February 6, 2017)

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, quoting

Meteorological sources said climate outlook for belg 2017 season (mid-February to May), shows below normal rainfall  in the southern and south-eastern parts of the country.

Belg is the main rainy season for the pastoralist and agro‐pastoralist communities in the lowlands of southern and south-eastern Ethiopia, including southern Somali region, the lowlands of Borena, Guji and Bale zones and  other southern Ethiopian regions; and it’s the second major rainy season for Afar region.

The Agency said expected below normal rainfall in belg-benefiting areas will negatively impact belg land preparation and planting, as well as water and pasture availability; with a spiral effect on food and nutritional security of affected communities.

The agency urges farmers and all concerned bodies to take preemptive measures to minimize the humanitarian impact, including planting short cycle, moisture-tolerant crops; rain water harvesting; moisture conservation; and pasture management practices.

Belg crops account for 30 to 60 per cent of the annual crop production in belg-dependent areas, according to the humanitarian agency.