Current crop outlook optimistic

Unless unfavourable rains develop during the latter part of this current agricultural season harvest should be normal in Rwanda, FEWS NET reported in its 18 August update on food security in the country. "It is estimated that Seasons C [July-November] will contribute about 15 percent of annual food production, which significantly alleviates the severity of hunger periods in October-November," it reported. It said that because of recent sparse rainfall, there should be no need for distribution of sweet potato vines for planting, unlike in 2002, except for parts of Bugesera region. FEWS said that the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) planned to distribute 6.3 million cuttings of Creolina, a cassava variety moderately resistant to the mosaic virus, in October. It said there was a current "severe shortage" of mosaic-resistant varieties of cassava, especially in Bugesera where the root tuber was the main source of food and income. Distributions of cassava cuttings will be in Bugesera and Mayaga regions, and the provinces of Kibungo and Umutara. "This quantity should be enough for planting about 630 hectares, but this falls short of current needs not only in Bugesera but across the country," FEWS reported. A joint team comprising officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and the FAO made a food assessment mission in June and confirmed that production at the national level was "essentially satisfactory", FEWS reported. However, it said, Bugesera region in Kigali Province experienced a major shortfall of production. The team also found localised pockets of production shortfalls in Umutara, Kibungo, Gikongoro, Butare, Kibuye, Cyangugu and Ruhengeri provinces. FEWS said the situation in Kikongoro and Ruhengeri provinces were becoming "increasingly worrying". It added, "The shortfall of the WFP [World Food Programme] food pipeline in Rwanda remains a serious concern. From August 2003 to January 2004 there will be a gap of 4,885 mt if new donations are not made now. Otherwise, the ongoing protracted relief and recovery operation which includes food assistance for refugees, nutrition centers and drought affected [areas] (i.e. Bugesera) will need to be reduced." FEWS said the situation in Bugesera prompted the ministry, international relief NGO CARITAS, the Rwandan Red Cross and others "to provide free food distribution to the households most affected by the production shortfall in the worst hit sectors of Gashora and Nyamata districts as early as June", FEWS reported. In addition, it said, the ministry provided goats to affected residents so that they would not sell their assets, thus helping to maintain farmers' livelihoods. "The mission recommended that the households most vulnerable to these localized shortfalls be considered for food assistance by WFP and partners," FEWS reported. The team also recommended that FEWS, WFP and partners monitor closely the provinces falling short of their minimum daily requirements of 2,100 kilo calories per capita - namely Ruhengeri, Gisenyi, Butare and Gikongoro. FEWS NET, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, is a USAID-funded activity. [Full report]