The overall performance of the 2008 gu rains was poor; though pastoral areas in Juba and Gedo received good rains, initial rains were poor in many cropping areas, including most of the central regions, Hiran, and rainfed areas of the Shabelle regions. As a result, prospects for August's gu cereal harvest are very poor.
Costal and sub-coastal areas of Juba, Shabelle and Mogadishu received above normal hagai showers which improved crop and pasture condition, and recharged water sources. Information from the field confirms that the hagia showers alleviated the impact of the poor gu rains in those regions.
Owing to consecutive seasons of poor cereal production and reduced imports, cereal prices are continuing to increase in all markets (35-45 percent since April 2008). In the Shabelle regions, maize prices are now 373 percent higher than the 5-year average (2003-07) for this month, while in Jawhar and Marka maize prices are 404 percent and 389 percent higher than 5-year average. Similarly, in Juba regions, maize prices are 302 percent higher than the average.
An assistant affixes an earpiece for China's President Hu Jintao in Sapporo, on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, July 8, 2008. Hu on Tuesday rejected a charge that growing demand from ...
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