Oilseeds & Pulses

In the main agricultural regions in Ethiopia there are two rainy seasons, the Meher and the Belg, and consequently, there are two crop seasons. Meher is the main crop season. It encompasses crops harvested between Meskerem (September) and Yeaktit (February). Coffee harvested during Meher crop season. Crops harvested between Megabit (March) and Nehase (August) are considered part of the Belg season crop. The Meher season is overwhelmingly important (96.9 percent of total crop production and 95.5 percent of total cereal production in 2007/08). Only smallholders cultivate crops during the Belg season and yields are smaller in the Belg than in the Meher season. In 2007/08 4.5 percent of national ceral production was produced in the Belg season. The most important contribution of the Belg season to total production is found for maize: 22.0 percent of total maize area was cultivated in the Belg season and this resulted in 9.5 percent of total maize production.