Normal rains in the first dekad of November which followed abundant rains since mid-October, benefited 1998 first season foodcrops. However, prospects for the harvest, from late December, are uncertain. A delay of three weeks at the start of the rainy season resulted in a reduction in plantings and left crops vulnerable to an early cessation of precipitation, while insecurity in the north-western provinces of Ruhengeri and Gisengi continues to disrupt normal agricultural activities.
The food supply situation is tight. The output of the 1997 B season was higher than in the previous year but lower than the pre-war average. The small 1997 C “marshland” season was also reduced. In aggregate, production in the second half of the year remained below needs of an expanded population following the massive returns of December 1996 and early 1997. Prices of basic food staple continue to increase, except for beans which have stabilized at high levels. Serious food shortages are reported in the Gikongoro, Butare and Kibungo prefectures.
An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission is planned for January 1998 to appraise 1998 A food production and estimate import requirements for the first half of the next year, including food aid.