HARVESTING of the 2014 main season crops is expected to start at the beginning of November and, according to satellite-based monitoring, production prospects in main agricultural areas of Debub, Maekel, Gash Barka and Anseba zobas are favourable.
The 2014 “kiremti” rainy season had a timely onset at the end of June and, especially by August on wards, has been characterized by abundant and well-distributed precipitation amounts in most cropping areas, in some cases continuing until the second dekad of October.
Farmers in Mendefera sub-zone from Debub agricultural area for instance said they are expecting bumper harvest this year thanks to the evenly distributed ample rainfall, coupled with sustained follow-up, soil and water conservation activities they carried out on time.
Mr. Eyasu Asefaw, head of the Agriculture Ministry’s branch in the sub-zone, explained that a total of 13, 421 hectares were put under cultivation out of 16, 391 hectares.
By contrast, in Red Sea coastal agro-pastoral areas, “kiremti” rains have been erratic and below average and the latest remote sensing analysis indicates significant negative anomalies showing deterioration of grazing resources.
