Famine Early Warning Systems Network

Overall performance of March rainfall in the region has been mixed over the past month. Many areas of the Eastern Horn, including most of Somalia, and many areas of eastern Ethiopia, remain drier than normal in advance of the onset of seasonal rainfall in April. In pastoral areas of southern Ethiopia and northeastern Kenya where seasonal rainfall typically begins by mid-March, seasonal rainfall has been below average and is already considered delayed by one to two weeks. This prolonged dryness continues to significantly limit water and pasture for pastoral households and is unfavorable for cropping in agropastoral areas. In addition, Belg seasonal rainfall has been below average in many Belg-receiving areas of Ethiopia.

However, there was an early onset of seasonal rainfall by 10 to 20 days in February over parts of Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and western Kenya. The early onset is attributed to a series of tropical cyclones in the neighbouring Indian Ocean resulting in abnormally heavy rains that persisted into early March. These rains were slightly to well above average (+20 to +200 mm) in Tanzania, Uganda, and southeastern South Sudan and neighboring areas of southwestern Ethiopia. However, during the month of March, seasonal rainfall was below-average in Kenya, most of Burundi, parts of western Rwanda, and eastern DRC.  

According to the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, vegetation conditions remain well below average across many areas of southern Somalia, southern and eastern Ethiopia, much of Kenya, northern Uganda, western Tanzania, and parts of South Sudan. Persistent cloudiness associated with ongoing rains over Rwanda, Burundi, and northwestern Uganda have partially obscured assessment of vegetation conditions.

The following is a country-by-country update on recent seasonal progress to date:

• In Ethiopia, the onset of March to May Belg rains have been slow and early season rainfall deficits have accumulated in most Belg-receiving areas of the country. In southern pastoral areas of SNNPR and southern Oromia, the onset of March to May Gu/Genna rains are already delayed by one to two weeks. Large portions of Ethiopia have remained sunny and hot, with the southern and eastern region still under pronounced drier-than-normal conditions. The coming weeks are critical for the establishment and intensification of the seasonal rains in these areas.
• In Somalia, the January to March Jilaal dry season is ongoing, with pasture and water availability much more limited than normal, following the failure of the preceding October to December 2016 Deyr rains. The Gu rains typically start in April and little to no rainfall is forecast in southern or central Somalia through the end of March. However, 10-80 mm of rainfall is expected over isolated areas of northwestern Somalia during the upcoming weeks.
• In Kenya, the March to May rainy season has yet become fully established and prolonged severe dryness has further constrained access to water and pasture, which has reportedly led to instances of resource-based conflict. In addition, the delayed onset has led to a delay in planting in marginal agricultural areas.
• In Tanzania, the significantly improved Msimu unimodal rains over the past one to two months have resulted in improved crop production prospects, especially in southern, higher-producing areas, easing some pressure on already planted crops. However, the significantly delayed start of the season, especially in transition areas of northern Tanzania, is still likely to leading to prospects for lower than normal yields. The start of the Masika (March to May) season in bimodal areas has been near normal with additional rainfall expected in April, which is beneficial following the poor Vuli season.
• In Uganda, above-average seasonal rains between February and early March led to an early start of season in most bimodal areas. These rains are expected to gradually ease the prolonged drier-than-normal conditions along the cattle corridor. Although early planted crops are in the vegetative stage and cropping conditions are good overall, decreases in rainfall over the past few weeks have resulted in some slight moisture stress on crops.
• In Rwanda, seasonal rains became established in February, marking an early onset for the key cropping areas of the country. Cropping conditions are normal in eastern parts of the country, but rainfall during March was less than 80 percent of average, and locally less than 50 percent of average, in western areas of the country. The seasonal rains are expected to continue in the coming weeks and are likely to ease dryness.

• In Burundi, the seasonal start of Season B also occurred in February, which has eased dry conditions in parts of eastern Burundi. Overall, rainfall in March was above average, except in areas of far western Burundi. Cropping conditions are expected to improve with the peak of the seasonal rains in April.

• In Djibouti, eastern pastoral regions of the country remain drier-than-normal following the slightly below-average Xays/Dadaa (October to February) rainfall season. Recent near average rains for the Diraac/Sugum (March to May) season and forecast rainfall are likely to gradually improve currently poor rangeland conditions in southeastern Ali Sabieh region.
• In eastern DRC, experienced significant early season rainfall deficits, particularly areas bordering Rwanda and northwestern Burundi. This resulted in slightly below-average vegetation conditions. Current cropping conditions for the early planted crops remain favorable and additional moderate to very heavy rains are forecast in the coming weeks.
• In Yemen, rain showers in March across western coastal areas of the country were likely favorable for cropping. However, the ongoing political and economic situation, leading to high diesel prices and insecurity, may lead to reductions in some cropping activities.