EMERGENCIES UNIT FOR ETHIOPIA
Field Trip Report to North Omo,
Konso and Derashe Special Weredas
23 October - 16 November 1994
SUMMARY
A crop assessment was conducted in October in the North Omo zone of Southern Ethiopian Peoples' Administrative region by the Early Warning department of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC). The purpose of the assessment was to monitor the performance of the main season (meher) crop and evaluate its impact on the food supply of the rural population for 1995. The United Nation Emergencies Unit (UN-EUE) was also represented in the assessment. The following is a narrative of the observations of the EUE field officer during this field trip.
In all visited meher producing weredas, the zonal office of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) reported that long cycle rains stopped prematurely in August at the flowering and ripening stage of teff, barley and wheat. Hailstorms, floods and waterlogging were also reported in some weredas. In most weredas, the early discontinuation of Kiremt rain affected the quality of teff, wheat and barley crops ,in the highland (dega) and mid-highland (weyna dega) agro-ecological zones. The planting of sweet potato, a root crop considered as an important staple food throughout the seven weredas of the zone could not take place in September due to the mentioned climatic changes.
During the visit with the team, it was noted that pasture and water availability for livestock is generally satisfactory, except in a few weredas.
However, the condition of livestock was not so good, especially in the lowland (kola) zones, due to high incidence of Trypanosomiasis disease. According to veterinary personnel in the area, the disease is expanding even to the mid-highland (weyna dega) ecological zone. Veterinary services are available in almost all the areas visited, however, drugs and equipment are scarce.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS
During the trip, the causes of vulnerability to famine in the area were observed. Natural forests have been cleared in the process of preparing farmland for agriculture. Population pressure on the land has had an adverse effect on the life of peasants who attempts to fulfil their social needs. This situation is aggravated by the clearing of forests on steep slopes of landscapes. Plains and land located on steep slopes have been cleared and utilized for the purpose of farms. Therefore, soil that is exposed to rain and wind is eroded and high depositions of silt cover the top soil, which is the part that is needed for agricultural output. Furthermore, rivers and streams are also filled up by depositions of silt and dry up. In areas such as Konso and Derashe special wereda in the North Omo zone, Kindo Koisha, Bolosso Sore wereda and Chencha, land that was previously used for farming is now covered by depositions of silt. Consequently, in these areas agricultural output is minimized and drought and famine are recurrent.
It is recommended that natural resources conservation work is performed in conjunction with regular activities and according to the directives for disaster prevention and preparedness. Free food distributions by the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission need to be utilized for the purpose of food for work. Food assistance could also be used to motivate local participation in solving environmental problems, preparing seedling and seedbeds, clearing streams, building reservoirs and making terraces. Through food for work, special attention could also be diverted to the recovering of farmland covered by depositions of silt and to the expansion of agro-forestry.
KONSO SPECIAL WEREDA
The population of Konso is estimated to be 169,929. The inhabitants of the wereda live in two agro-ecological zones, with 35% in the lowland (kola) and 75% in the mid-highland (weyna dega). The Belg harvest accounts for 82% of the total agricultural production in the wereda, whereas the Meher harvest makes up for 18% of the output.
The onset of the 1994 Belg rains was delayed by six weeks. This resulted in a failed Belg harvest and also caused a delay in land preparation for the long cycle Meher crop planting. The main rains (Kiremt) started on time, but were reported to have had an erratic pattern. This affected the expected total production of 29,930 quintals of maize, sorghum, barley, teff and wheat, which is reported to have been only 16,984 quintals. In comparison to last year's Meher production this reduction is less by 44%. In addition to irregular rainfall, during the main agricultural season of this year armyworm infestation and hailstorms also caused damage, especially to maize and sorghum.
LIVESTOCK CONDITION
Konso wereda has 1,700 heads of cattle, 25,000 goats and 1,700 equine. However, grazing land is generally used for agricultural purposes due to the limited landholding capacity of the community. The special wereda reported that the incidence of the animal disease CBPP has greatly affected livestock, particularly goats. According to available information, about 110,000 goats have been affected by this disease, with a death rate of 4,000. The wereda veterinary personnel are trying to control the disease, but are faced with a lack of drugs as well as logistical problems.
MARKET SITUATION
In Konso, cereal price in the market have increased between 10-75% due to this year's production shortfall. Although the amount of rainfall was not satisfactory for a good crop yield, it improved pasture and water availability. Therefore, livestock prices in the market have increased between 16-33% according to household demand.
HEALTH SITUATION
According to the wereda health official, no outbreaks of epidemics had been observed. Due to food shortages, however, several cases of marasmus in children and malaria in adults have been reported. Health authorities are now taking necessary measures (treatment and spraying) to counter these problems.
FOOD SUPPLY
The Konso special wereda has received food assistance provided by the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, aid agencies and voluntary organisation in the last consecutive years. This has been due to the vulnerability of the wereda as a result of inconsistent climatic changes. In 1994, the erratic performance of the Kremt rains combined with the production shortfall left the wereda in need of immediate assistance. Therefore, there is a need for the general situation in Konso to be closely monitored in order to avoid fututre problems.
DERASHE SPECIAL WEREDA
The population of Derashe is estimated to be 85,390. The agro-ecological characteristics of the area are 42% lowland (kola), 35% mid-highland (weyna dega) and 23% highland (dega). According to the zonal office of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), the wereda covers a total area of 179,400 hectares, of which 31,843 hectares is only used for agricultural production. The annual harvest breakdown is 60% from the Belg season and 40% from the Meher season.
In Derashe wereda, the 1993 production year's yield was reported to have been very poor for both the Belg and Meher seasons, due to irregular rainfall. The onset of 1994 Belg rains was also delayed by five weeks and was not sufficiently distributed in many kebeles of the wereda. The main rainy season (Meher) normally starts in July, however, this year it was late by one month but was generally well distributed other than in a few kebeles. The wereda Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) confirms that the this year's main season rains were better than 1993. Also, the continuation of Kiremt rains was suitable for a secondary sorghum harvest (local name: Hageya) after the main crop harvest was completed.
The wereda MoA reported the following breakdown for the 1993-1994 production:
1.1993 production year
Production from belg 146,450 qt
Production from meher 33,164 qt
---------------
TOTAL 179,614 QT
2.1994 production year
production from belg 183,440 qt
production from meher 120,270 qt
---------------
TOTAL 303,710 QT
LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS
Derashe wereda has an estimated 48,820 oxen, 24,922 cows, 31,565 goats, 34,178 sheep and 10,489 equine. According to the wereda veterinary personnel, there are no animal diseases prevalent in the wereda. However, they have received report from the lowland kebeles that some nomadic areas animals have been highly affected by Trypanosomiasis. It was not possible to take measures to control the disease in these areas due to a shortage of drugs and lack of transportation.
MARKET SITUATION
Cereal prices in the market have declined between 10-50% on various food items in comparison to the previous year (1993). The price of livestock, on the other hand, has increased between 5-70% as a result of improved pasture and water availability.
HEALTH SITUATION
According to information obtained from the wereda health authorities, no outbreaks of epidemic diseases were reported during the time of the field trip. Malaria and diarrhoeal cases are observed on children periodically and are duly treated.
FOOD SUPPLY
The production performance of 1994 in Derashe wereda is generally considered to have been much better than 1993. However, pastoralists in the lowlands (kola) have been affected by animal diseases and may need attention in the coming year.
NORTH OMO ZONE
With a population of 3,085,879, North Omo zone is located in the Southern Ethiopian Peoples Administrative region. The zone has a total 2,591,900 hectares of land in 28 weredas. Approximately 38.5% of the land lies in the lowlands (kola), 38% in the mid-highlands (weyna dega) and 23.5% in the highlands (dega).The Belg harvest is estimated to contribute to 55% of the agricultural output of the zone, whereas the Meher season accounts for about 45% of the annual production.
CROP YIELD DURING THE 1994 PRODUCTION YEAR
North Omo received good rainfall prior to January 1994. From the beginning of the year rainfall decreased, to the extent where it reached very low levels between March and June, then completely stopped in August. It is in these months, which normally yield the highest production, that the zone experienced the least rainfall. During the two cropping seasons this year 489,112 hectares of land were used for agriculture. The harvest reached a total of 315,4613 quintals out of the total consumption requirement of 5,554,582 quintals. Therefore, a shortfall of 239,969 quintals of grain has been recorded in the zone for this agricultural year.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE 1994 PRODUCTION YEAR.
Rainfall pattern
In North Omo, the Belg rains were delayed three to four weeks with some weredas only briefly receiving rainfall, which was not enough in amount and distribution. This pattern affected the tilting of crops and only 1,260 hectares of land was used for planting, leaving a consumption shortfall of 11,516 quintals of grain from the Belg season. Also, due to the late start of the Belg season 34,959 hectares of land could not be cultivated and consequently, a potential yield of 419,508 quintals was lost. Following this, the zone experienced an onset of heavy rains, hailstorms and pest infestation that resulted in the loss of another 287,398 quintals of crops planted on 74,136 hectares.
PRODUCTION EVALUATION
During the two harvest seasons in North Omo zone, a total of 3,817,031 quintals of grain was harvested in 28 weredas. Considering the annual consumption requirement of the zone is said to be 5,554,582 quintals, an additional 1,727,552 quintals of grain is needed in the zone to cover the requirement gap.
DOMESTIC ANIMALS RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
North Omo zone has 2,112,073 oxen, cows, goats and sheep. These domestic animals are the backbone of the livelihood of societies in the zone as the well-being of inhabitants in area is directly connected to that of their livestock. Therefore, availability of grazing land in the zone in somewhat of a problem as it is not proportional to the total number of livestock and does not meet the extent of needs.
WEREDA REPORT
The following weredas were visited during the assessment mission:
Chencha
The population of Chencha Wereda is estimated to be 111,095. The people live in three agro-ecological zones, with 7% in the lowlands (kola), 8% in the mid-highlands (weyna dega) and 85% in the highlands (dega). The Belg harvest is estimated to account for 15% of the total cereal production, whereas the Meher output makes up 85%. The onset of the Kremt rains was reported to have been on time in the highlands and mid-highlands, but three weeks later than normal in the lowland areas. During the trip it was observed that wheat and barley crops planted in the mid-highland and highland zones had developed well. According to the wereda technical experts, the performance of the 1994 Meher season has been better than the previous year. However, in the lowland areas, the late start of rains together with the effects of Trypanosomiasis on livestock are likely to leave at least five kebeles vulnerable to food shortages until the next Belg harvest.
Mirab Abaya
The wereda is comprised of ten Kebeles in the highland and 15 in the lowland zones. Excessive Kremt rains in 1994 resulted initially in waterlogging and eventually in major crop damages to barley and potato crops in the dega and weyna dega zones. In addition, the premature discontinuation of rainfall in August hampered the planting of sweet potato crops in September. The lowland areas of the wereda have reported good crop performance, however it seems that the livestock in this area have been affected by Trypanosomiasis disease.
Kindo Koisha
The wereda is comprised of 35% in the highlands (dega), 35% in the mid-highlands (weyna dega) and 30% in the lowlands (kola) with estimated population of 169,000. The Meher production accounts for 65% of the annual output of the wereda while the Belg accounts for 35%. The early discontinuation of the Kiremt rains in August at the flowering stage of teff, barley and wheat has resulted in yield reduction. Also the planting of sweet potato, which is normally in September, could not take place due to the early withdrawal of rains.
Sawlla
According to the wereda Ministry of Agriculture office the wereda covers the three agro-ecological climatic zones with 45% of the area in the highlands (dega), 30% in the mid-highlands (weyna dega) and 24% in the lowlands (kola). The estimated population of the wereda is 198,000. Although the Kiremt rainfall pattern was erratic in September, the progress of crops has been satisfactory. However, in some pocket areas in the highlands and mid-highlands teff, barley and wheat crops were affected by endemic pests and ensete by a bacterial disease called Xanthomonas (Spp). The situation in the lowlands of the wereda, which are mainly maize and sweet potato producing, is relatively better than in the dega and weyna dega zones. In the lowland areas along the Omo river, livestock were affected by Trypanosomiasis but have not been treated due to the inaccessibility of roads.
Ubamale
The wereda is comprised of seven kebeles in the dega, one in the weyna dega and 16 in the kola zones. The main crop in the wereda is maize followed by sorghum, teff, wheat and barley. According to the wereda office of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Kiremt rains started three weeks later than expected and delayed seeding. Following the late start of rainfall, distribution was reported to be poor during the flowering stage of the main crops. Nevertheless, from discussions with local officials it was assessed that the 1994 Belg harvest was approximately 30% higher than that of the previous year. The Meher harvest, however, was expected to be 24% lower than the long cycle production of 1993.
Editor: Ali B. Dinar, (aadinar@sas.upenn.edu)