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Hargeysa,
October 3, 2009 - After predictions by meteorologists that the country
was likely to receive substantial rain between October and December,
officials of Somaliland have urged farmers and pastoralists to prepare
to make maximum use of the rains.
The meteorological department has forecast that most of Somaliland will
experience "near normal" to "above normal" rains in the coming Deyr
(short rains) season.
"The oncoming rains will come as a relief and an indication of an end to
drought in the affected areas," according to a climate outlook report by
Somalia's Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM). "The expected
rainfall, with timely onset over most agricultural areas of the country,
would be adequate for good crop performance. Farmers can also expect an
extended length of the growing period."
Ahmed Qofal Jama, the Adadlay district representative of the ministry of
agriculture, said: "Whenever heavy rains are received in southeast Asia
and India, the rains cross the Indian Ocean to the Horn of Africa and we
therefore expect good rains, which are handy after the poor performance
of the last several rainy seasons that caused serious livelihood crises
to both pastoralists and agro-pastoralists. We are encouraging farmers
to make full use of the expected rains."
maj/js/mw
Source: IRIN, September 30, 2009
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