Heavy rains in mid-June resulted in floods which caused heavy damage to several villages and towns across the country. The Governorates of Mareb, Al Jawf, Hadramout, Abyan and Shabwa were declared disaster areas by the Government which made an appeal to the international community for relief assistance. Preliminary assessments indicate that in the five above- mentioned Governorates more than 13 300 hectares of land have been destroyed by the floods, by washing away of the top soil, and about 4 000 hectares have lost their crop production for this year. In addition to the loss of land, the agricultural sector suffered loss in terms of crop production. Damage occurred to flood protection structures, irrigation and rural infrastructure.
Sowing of summer cereal crops to be harvested towards the end of the year continue in many Governorates.
Production of sorghum in 1995 is estimated at 0.48 million tons, about 40 000 tons more than the previous year and sharply above average. Millet output, estimated at 55 000 tons, was virtually unchanged from last year. Production of wheat and barley, estimated at 168 000 tons and 62 000 tons, respectively, was slightly lower than 1994. Labour wages in both rural and urban areas and cost of petrol are reported to be above normal.
Imports of cereals in 1996 - mainly wheat - are estimated at about 2 million tons, an increase of some 1.5 percent compared with 1995.
High numbers of solitary hoppers are becoming gregarious at a few places along the coastal plains near Aden. The extent of the resulting infestation is not well known but may cover a large area as a result of good rainfall and favourable breeding conditions. Survey and control operations are being initiated.