FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 02/02 - SOMALIA (1 February)
Harvesting of the 2001/02 secondary “Deyr” season cereal crop, which normally accounts for 25 to 30 percent of annual cereal production, is well advanced. Despite earlier uncertainty, the outlook has generally improved with good rains in major growing areas. Latest forecasts indicate a cereal crop of some 160 000 tonnes, comprising 90 000 tonnes of sorghum and 70 000 tonnes of maize, which is about 68 percent above the previous year’s harvest.
However, the food security situation in Gedo, East Sanag, Sool and parts of Bari regions gives cause for concern. Overall, more than 500 000 people are estimated to be facing severe food difficulties in Somalia, mainly due to poor 2001 main “Gu” season crops. Slow recovery from successive seasons of drought and long-term effects of insecurity coupled with reduced foreign exchange earnings due to the continuing ban on livestock imports from eastern Africa by countries along the Arabian Peninsula on account of Rift Valley Fever have seriously undermined household food security.