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Drop in rainfall at the end of the growing season lowers food production prospects

  • Key Message Update
  • Rwanda
  • December 2017
Drop in rainfall at the end of the growing season lowers food production prospects

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  • Key Messages
  • Key Messages
    • Across most of Rwanda, erratic and below-average rainfall since early December is likely to result in below-average harvests of beans and maize, particularly in Kayonza and Kirehe districts in Eastern Province. Although sweet potato production will partially compensate maize and bean production shortfalls, poor households in these areas are likely to face Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes through May 2018. However, overall, Minimal (IPC Phase 1) outcomes are expected to persist countrywide.  

    • Staple food prices fell in November ahead of the first Season A harvests, primarily due to the originally more positive outlook for Season A production. According to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), food prices dropped by three percent compared to the previous month and were two percent lower than a year ago. This has facilitated greater food access, but the seasonal price drops in December and January are expected to be moderated by total Season A production likely being below average. 

    • According to UNHCR, about 700 additional Burundians sought asylum in November. Despite continued violence in the DRC, this has not translated yet into any new asylum seekers in Rwanda. Severe funding shortfalls persist for refugee food assistance, and if WFP does not receive additional funding, it may further cut daily food rations. In the absence of assistance, the more than 56,000 Burundian refugees living in Mahama Camp in Kirehe District would be in Crisis (IPC Phase 3).

    This Key Message Update provides a high-level analysis of current acute food insecurity conditions and any changes to FEWS NET's latest projection of acute food insecurity outcomes in the specified geography. Learn more here.

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