Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Planting of the 1998 crops is not scheduled until late May/June. Following an outbreak of the desert locust in late 1997, control operations are being undertaken by the Government in preparation for the new cropping season.
The 1997 main season grain crops were reduced by a dry spell in September, when the crops were at the critical maturing stage, and unexpected heavy rains at harvest. The output is estimated at the same reduced level of the previous year.
With the third consecutive below-average harvest and a sharp reduction in grain import availability from neighbouring Ethiopia, the food situation is tight. Cereal prices, which had increased at harvest time in November, have risen sharply in the past months.