Reduction in maize output expected

Meanwhile, a recent USAID-FEWS visit to Ethiopia’s maize belt in western Oromiya and parts of the southwest found the area planted to maize reduced by about nine percent. This reduction in the planted area, combined with other factors including below-normal main season rains, inadequate land preparation, heavy weed infestation and low application of fertiliser was likely to result in a “large reduction in maize production compared to last year”, a report from FEWS said. It said in addition to the north and south Gondar Zones of Amhara region where needs may have been underestimated, there had been problems with disruption of food aid deliveries.