FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 06/01 - ETHIOPIA* (18 June)
Abundant rains in the first two dekads of May benefited the 2001 “belg” crops to be harvested from June. Despite a dry spell in late March and first dekad of April, subsequent good rains have allowed a recovery of the crops. The “belg” production accounts for some 7 to 10 percent of the aggregate cereal production of the country, but it is important in several areas, where it provides the bulk of the annual food supplies. Overall prospects for the harvest are favourable and output is anticipated to recover substantially from last year’s poor “belg” crop. However, an army-worm outbreak recently reported in eastern parts of the country may impact negatively on the outcome of the season.
In the pastoral areas, the current main season rainfall was late by about a month but was widespread and abundant from late April. The impact of the late onset of rains could be significant given the short span of the season and the recent severe droughts. Recent nutritional surveys have shown high levels of global acute malnutrition, indicating continuing food shortages.
As a result of last year’s bumper “meher” cereal and pulse crop, the overall food supply situation in the country is stable. However, the sharp decline in grain prices has severely affected household income in rural areas and may negatively impact on farmers’ production decisions this year. The Government and donors have made some attempts to support local markets through purchases of grain, but with limited funding available the efforts have not been successful so far. Some 6.5 million people, affected by a severe drought in the last two years and the war with neighbouring Eritrea, depend on food assistance.
An Emergency Operations (EMOP) worth about US$90 million was jointly approved in March 2001 by FAO and WFP for relief food assistance to 2.5 million small-scale farmers and drought- affected pastoralists, for a period of 10 months (April 2001 to January 2002). A revised EMOP was also approved jointly in April 2001 for 323 000 internally displaced people due to the war, worth a total of about US$55 million until end of July 2001.
Food aid pledges by the end of May amounted to 585 000 tonnes, of which 215 000 tonnes have been delivered.