In the coming month of September 2024, the meteorological forecast information indicates that the seasonal rainfall activity is expected to continue over much of Meher and Kiremt rainfall benefiting area of the country. In line with this much of West and Eastern half of Amhara, Benshangul-Gumuz, Gambella, Southwest Ethiopia, Central and Western half of Oromia and Tigray region, the kiremt rains will continue until the end of the month. This situation will favor ongoing meher agricultural activities which are at different phenological stages in terms of crop water requirement such as water availability of perennial plants, long cycle meher crops which found at grain filling and maturity stage, sowing of pulses crops like chickpeas and lentils which grow in the highland areas using residual moisture at the end of the season. In addition to the it is important to harvest the availability of pasture and drinking water over pastoral and agro pastoral areas of the aforementioned areas and the moisture also expected to expand to the south which will make a significant contribution to the Southern areas of the country, which are normally dry during the last kiremt months and have their second rainy season in the Bega season. However, the expected heavy and continuous rainfall over aforementioned areas could have negative impact on the ongoing agricultural activities due to excessive moisture as water logging; flooding over steep slope areas and the over flow of rivers to the surrounding crop EMI Monthly Agro meteorology bulletin Page 15 fields. In order to alleviate such adverse condition, prevention technique like channeling had better be strengthened over the flood prone areas and it is necessary to be careful by visiting the farm regularly, remove the weeds in time using herbicides and pesticides in time, and supporting the advice from the agricultural experts. Moreover, the continuous and widespread rainfall over some parts might create conducive condition for weed infestation which can be aggressive at the time of excess moisture condition. Therefore proper attention should be taken to minimize the risk due to the expected excesses moisture condition.
Agromet Bulletin August 2024
Bulletin