Rwanda
Late beginning of Rwandan agricultural season

afrol News, 16 October - The delayed rainy season in Rwanda is causing much concern, as most of beans and maize crops should have been planted throughout the country by now. If rains come soon, there could however still be satisfactory harvest.

Rains at the end of August and early September have been deceptive, according to the US agency Famine Early Warning Network (FEWS Net). Further, the mid-September 2002 to mid-January 2003 season rains had not yet started in most of the country. As of 10 October, soils in parts of the centre and east of the country were still "too dry to allow planting."

Planting is however still feasible until around 20 October, the agency says, and rains seem to becoming steadier by mid-October. However, planting would not be sufficiently staggered, which would make crops more vulnerable en masse to further disruption of rainfall during the season. 

Also, "a late planting now means late harvesting and risk of delayed sorghum planting in January 2003, which could result in a poor production of this important crop by July 2003."

Up to the end of the year, food security in Rwanda however should remain satisfactory at national level, given last season's fairly good production. This was corroborated by the market prices which are lower, in nominal terms, than those of last year. After December 2002, food security would be mainly determined by the pattern of rainfall during the period of October 2002 to mid-January 2003. 

The World Food Program (WFP) and FEWS Net had conducted a field mission in the high altitude regions where pockets of food insecurity were expected around this period. The mission had found that whole areas, not just pockets, were affected. 

Based on field observations and on farmers and interviews of various local administrative and technically authorities, it concluded that the gravity of food insecurity is still generally moderate, with the households able to cope using traditional strategies such as off-farm employment and petty trade of food items. 

- The zones chronically food deficit areas and vulnerable households were as always the most affected, FEWS reports. The mission recommends that WFP and other humanitarian organisations operating in the areas set up or strengthen food-for-work activities to avert a food crisis during the hunger period (especially in November and December) for a population estimated at 274,000 people. 

- If further unfavourable rainfall events prevail during the season, most of the population now moderately food insecure would face high food insecurity early next year, FEWS warned. 

Sources: Based on FEWS and afrol archives

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