ETHIOPIA* (1 May)
Prospects for the 2004 secondary “belg” grain crops have improved considerably following beneficial rains in several parts of the country. The belg crop accounts for some 10 percent of total grain production but in some areas it provides most of the annual grain production. Good rains in April have also helped the replenishment of pasture and water in the lowland areas of the south and south-east.
In 2004 about 7 million vulnerable people are estimated to require food assistance, while an additional 2.2 million will require close monitoring. Following recent assessments, relief food requirements for 2004, earlier estimated at about 980 000 tonnes, are revised down by about 100 000 tonnes, mainly due to better than expected weather conditions. The recently-issued "Cereal Availability Study" estimated the amount of maize, wheat and sorghum available for local purchase for humanitarian operations in 2004 at between 300 000–350 000 tonnes.