FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 10/00 - ETHIOPIA*(18 September)
Despite a late start of rains, the 2000 main “Meher” season crops are developing satisfactorily in important cereal producing areas of central, northern and western parts of the country. However, continued rains through October are necessary for crops to mature. Moreover, cereal production in eastern and southern parts of the country is expected to be well below last year’s reduced crop.
The 2000 secondary “Belg” crop, normally harvested from June, has failed due to drought. Although Belg production accounts for only 8 to 10 percent of total cereal production, it is important in several areas where it provides the bulk of annual food supplies. The magnitude of food shortages has, therefore, increased in terms of numbers and areas affected. Food shortages in the pastoral areas of eastern and southern Ethiopia are particularly severe where large numbers of livestock have perished and a number of starvation related deaths occurred.
With the failure of the Belg season, the number of people in need of assistance has increased to more than 10 million people, including 400 000 displaced by the border war with Eritrea. Consequently, the overall food aid requirement in 2000 estimated earlier at 886 000 tonnes has been revised upwards to 1.2 million tonnes. Total pledges by early September amounted to 1.11 million tonnes of which 638 000 tonnes had been delivered.
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