FAO/WFP CROP AND FOOD SUPPLY ASSESSMENT MISSION TO ERITREA - 15 DECEMBER 1995
No hay miniatura disponible
Fecha
Autores
Título de la revista
ISSN de la revista
Título del volumen
Editor
Resumen
Descripción
An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission visited Eritrea from 13 to 25 November 1995 to make a preliminary assessment of the 1995 cereals and pulse harvest, and estimate cereal import requirements for 1996, includi ng food aid needs. During the field work, Mission members and Government counterparts travelled extensively in eight of Eritrea's nine provinces. Discussions were held with representatives of donor agencies, UN agencies, NGOs and relevant Governmen t institutions. At field l evel, discussions were held with Provincial agricultural staff of MoA, Eritrea Relief and Rehabilitation Agency (ERRA) and with representatives of bilateral agricultural development projects, community leaders and farmers. The cropping season started with low moisture levels during the short rainy period between March and May which did not permit the successful planting of early sown crops. Despite this set back, generally favourable rainfall during July and August r evived production prospec ts, although in some areas the short and intense rainfall resulted in some damage to crops. The dry spell in June and the sudden cessation of rains in September resulted in low soil moisture levels during critical stages of crop development, thus reducing the potential yields, particularly for the long season varieties. Although maize and sorghum planted between March and May suffered from unfavourable rainfall, the short season cereals such as barley, wheat and fing er millet performed well in the highlands. The tall stalked sorghum and maize varieties suffered moisture stress during June and in September. In order to offset the likelihood of a poor long season sorghum and maize crops, farmers increased the a reas planted under short season crops such as barley, wheat or mix of both in the highlands and teff, short season sorghum and sesame in the lowland areas. Localized infestation of grasshoppers, desert locust, stem borers and other insects further reduced yields.