
Normally during Bega season, harvest and post-harvest activities are the major practices over most parts of Meher growing areas. It is time to perform water-harvesting activities for pastoral and agro pastoral areas of southern and south-eastern lowlands. The weather situation would favor the outbreak of pests if there were favorable environment, susceptible host and the pest itself. Under normal circumstance, there is a possibility of frost hazard during the season, mainly over north-eastern, central, eastern and southern highland. The indicated selected analogue year for Bega 2024_25 are 2020/21 and 1995/96, particularly in the months of October and November experienced extended rainfall, resulting in favorable moisture conditions, SPI, vegetation cover, and good Rangeland index IMPLICATION OF THE SEASON:- Neutral IOD and NEUTRAL-LA NINA episode projected Normal rainfall performance is anticipated to dominate across Borena, Guji, Sidama and Southern portions of Ethiopia. However, below normal rainfall will prevail across southern portions of Somali region. Early onset and early cession of Bega 2024/25 rainfall will be expected. Nevertheless, much of the northern, northeastern, eastern and central Ethiopia will have above normal rainfall (unseasonal rainfall). There will be a high probability of frost occurrence during NDJ The south-western and western portions of the country dominantly will receive above normal rainfall with occasional heavy rainfall pattern. Above-normal temperature expected over eastern, central and south eastern. The daily minimum temperature will be expected <5 degree Celsius over northeastern, eastern, and southern areas. NMA Seasonal Agro-meteorology bulletin Page 24 distribution across western parts of Meher producing areas, as well as the southern and some parts of southeastern pastoral and agro-pastoral regions, the expected moisture conditions to the south and southeast where Bega is the second rainy season will create favorable conditions for land preparation and sowing crops over the highland parts and insure the availability of pasture and drinking water. Also for the selected analogue years of temperature frost indicated in frost-prone areas of the Northern, Northeastern, Eastern, and Southern highlands. Moreover the observed moisture in the month of January for land preparation for the upcoming Belg season. In the coming Bega 2024/25 season, the expected normal to above-normal moisture conditions over southern areas, particularly in the few Beg growing regions, will have a positive impact by supporting early land preparation and sowing activities. Moreover, it will play a beneficial role in the availability of pasture and drinking water in pastoral and agropastoral areas.