Harvest?

The disturbing development of the moment is the utter lack of rain. I may be mistaking, but I remember rainy season seeming a lot more... well, rainy. Last year the farmers in my community (99.9% of the population) were complaining about the rain, but even then the harvest seemed a bounty. So, they are just complaining, right?

That is the thing, even the most agriculturally-challenged person could take a glance at the millet and see that there isn't any millet on it. I have photos from this time last year of millet that was toppling over from the weight of the seed. The corn barely grew this year and the cobs were dry before picking. You can see the red dust resting on plants from the extended period between rains. I felt asmatic on the ride home from Ouaga.

Looking at the news about Kenya and Somalia really makes me concerned. I checked a famine watch web site and so far it says that only the northern parts of Burkina are under mild threat. But, what about the long term forecast?

Prices of dry beans are already 30% higher than they were this time last year. Some families have grain left over from last year, but even during a normal season grain runs out before harvest. I don't want to over react, but I am really concerned about when it hits about April or May and some families will already be running out of water and grain.

Hopefully a few good rains are left and we won't have to worry, but I am not so sure. The last thing I want to see is Burkina Faso facing further food insecurity.
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone from Airtel Burkina Faso.