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FAO/WFP CROP AND FOOD SUPPLY ASSESSMENT MISSION TO SOMALIA - 5 September 1997

Year of publication 1997

Author Trade and Markets Division

Product type Book (stand-alone)

Series title Special Reports and Alerts

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) An FAO/WFP Mission was fielded to evaluate the 1997 main Gu season crops and to estimate cereal import requirements, including food aid, in marketing year 1997/98 (August/July). Prior to the arrival of the Mission a production survey was conducted throughout the country by the Food Security Assessment Unit (FSAU) of WFP, supported by FAO. The Mission reviewed the findings of this assessment undertaken in July and collected further information through field visits, discussions with field staff, l ocal authorities and NGOs, as well as the donor community serving Somalia out of Nairobi. The 1997 Gu season started early in most parts of Somalia, being favourable for rainfed crop establishment. The main sorghum and maize producing areas, located in the South, received above-average rains at the beginning of the season (late March - April), which, however, declined to below-normal levels in May - to pick up again in June and early July. Following major increases in cropped area last Gu sea son, this season’s harvested area decreased by 6 percent over last year’s to 423 000 hectares; this is 17 percent below the pre-strife average (1982-88). Factors contributing to this decline in certain areas included the extremely poor nutritional status of farmers after the previous poor Deyr season diminishing their ability to cultivate fields; in other cases, planted fields were abandoned due to insecurity; or crops were abandoned before reaching maturity due to damage by pests and dry weathe r. While average yields increased during this Gu season, compensating for the decline in area, they remained below the 1982-88 pre civil strife levels, mainly reflecting moisture stress at the critical point of crop development. There were, nevertheless, substantial yield increases for maize and significant improvements for sorghum in some major producing regions, including Middle and Lower Juba, Gedo, and Northwest.

Language English

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