RWANDA (6 June)
The outlook for the 2003 second season foodcrops, about to be harvested, is generally favourable. Despite a delay in the start of the rainy season, abundant precipitation in April and May in most of the country led to the recovery of cereal and pulse crops affected by previous dry spells. However, production of the main sorghum crop could be below average due to reductions in the areas planted as a result of the late rains. By contrast, higher plantings of beans are likely to result in a good harvest. Although an average crop is expected at the national level, in parts of central and southern Kigali Rural province, particularly the Bugesera region, where rains arrived too late to prevent crop losses, this season’s harvest is anticipated to be reduced. In Kibungo and Umutara provinces, cassava mosaic virus has seriously affected the cassava crop.
Continued food assistance is likely to be required for vulnerable groups in the areas affected by dry weather, where food difficulties were already being experienced in the past months.