ERITREA* (24 October)
Harvesting of the 2005 main season (“Kremti”), crops has just started and the outlook is generally favourable, following good distribution of rainfall. Preliminary estimates from the Ministry of Agriculture indicate a cereal production of about 106 000 tonnes compared to last year’s 85 000 tonnes. However, even in good years, Eritrea produces only a fraction of its total food requirements and largely depends on imports.
In the last several years the food situation deteriorated sharply as a result of consecutive poor harvests and lingering effects of war with neighbouring Ethiopia, compounded by serious macro-economic imbalances. High cereal prices continue to impact on purchasing power and food security of large numbers of people. For instance, in July market prices for white sorghum, the main staple crop, doubled or more than doubled in Barentu and Keren compared to the same time last year. Currently, about 2 million people are facing varying degrees of food shortages with an estimated 1.3–1.4 million targeted for food assistance. Since September, however, general food distribution to drought/war affected beneficiaries has been suspended following government concerns about increased dependency and its proposal to shift to more food-for-work interventions. Consequently, only some 72 000 IDPs are currently receiving general rations compared with some 1.3 million in August 2005. Current in-country food aid stocks are expected to cover needs for the remainder of 2005 and well into 2006 unless earlier distribution levels are resumed. The government of Eritrea has declined to request the fielding of an FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission (CFSAM) in 2005.