East Africa Seasonal Monitor April 8, 2013
Heavy rains characterized the onset of March to May rains in Eastern Africa
• The onset of March to May rains have been timely across the cropping, agropastoral, and pastoral areas of Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda,
Burundi, Uganda, and Tanzania in the areas that receive these rains. The rains started between mid-March and the first week of April. They have been heavier-than-normal in most areas(Figure 1).
• Planting of crops is ongoing across much of the region, and favorable germination has occurred in several areas. However, the delay in the start of the rains in some areas, especially in the Belg-cropping areas in Ethiopia, delayed planting.
• Rangelands have regenerated substantially in many agropastoral and pastoral areas in Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, northern Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda. Pasture and browse availability has increased in most areas with the exception of Karamoja.