Ethiopia's farmers struggle to cope with drought as food
prices soar
Food prices in Ethiopia have continued to soar with reports of an alarming hike
of the cost of the cheapest grain, maize, in some markets of the drought-hit
Somali Region reaching 700 birr (about US$70) per 100-kg bag, up from about
350 birr (US$35).
Meanwhile, poor performance of the short rains (belg) season in the first half of
the year has forced farmers to switch to planting early maturing crops,
according to reports by the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
In a weekly update on the food situation in the east African country, the two
agencies Tuesday said that the impact of the rains had been limited in Somali,
Oromiya, Amhara, Tigray and Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples
(SNNP) regions.
Approximately 80 percent of farmers were switching to plantation of early
maturing crops after missing the chance to plant long cycle crops due to the
delay and poor performance of the 'belg' rains, the UN agencies reported.
There was also concern among farmers that the soaring price of fertilizer, from
400 birr to 800 birr per 50-kg bag in SNNP regions, would further affect
production.
Already, Ethiopia's Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Agency (DPPA) has
allocated one-month emergency food for 1.06 million beneficiaries in the region.
According to the report, the food situation in SNNP regions was becoming
critical, as disease has affected the only root crop available for consumption
(enset).
Cases of severe malnutrition have been reported in Siraro district of West Arsi
zone of neighbouring Oromiya Region, where therapeutic feeding centres have
provided treatment for 1,800 severely malnourished children.
Severe water and pasture shortages persist in Warder and Korahe zones of
Somali Region, where a recent assessment by the UN Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO) indicated increased livestock mortality among goats,
camels and cattle.
High concentration of livestock was also reported in areas that received some
rain, contributing to over-grazing of the limited browse and pasture.
Addis Ababa - 13/05/2008
prices soar
Food prices in Ethiopia have continued to soar with reports of an alarming hike
of the cost of the cheapest grain, maize, in some markets of the drought-hit
Somali Region reaching 700 birr (about US$70) per 100-kg bag, up from about
350 birr (US$35).
Meanwhile, poor performance of the short rains (belg) season in the first half of
the year has forced farmers to switch to planting early maturing crops,
according to reports by the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
In a weekly update on the food situation in the east African country, the two
agencies Tuesday said that the impact of the rains had been limited in Somali,
Oromiya, Amhara, Tigray and Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples
(SNNP) regions.
Approximately 80 percent of farmers were switching to plantation of early
maturing crops after missing the chance to plant long cycle crops due to the
delay and poor performance of the 'belg' rains, the UN agencies reported.
There was also concern among farmers that the soaring price of fertilizer, from
400 birr to 800 birr per 50-kg bag in SNNP regions, would further affect
production.
Already, Ethiopia's Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Agency (DPPA) has
allocated one-month emergency food for 1.06 million beneficiaries in the region.
According to the report, the food situation in SNNP regions was becoming
critical, as disease has affected the only root crop available for consumption
(enset).
Cases of severe malnutrition have been reported in Siraro district of West Arsi
zone of neighbouring Oromiya Region, where therapeutic feeding centres have
provided treatment for 1,800 severely malnourished children.
Severe water and pasture shortages persist in Warder and Korahe zones of
Somali Region, where a recent assessment by the UN Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO) indicated increased livestock mortality among goats,
camels and cattle.
High concentration of livestock was also reported in areas that received some
rain, contributing to over-grazing of the limited browse and pasture.
Addis Ababa - 13/05/2008
HOME | AUDIO | CONTACT US | ECADF LOBBY
| LIVE:ECADF Discussion CLICK HERE |