RAINS PROMISE BOUNTIFUL CROPS IN ETHIOPIA

  Rain over wide areas has raised the
  prospect of good food crops throughout Ethiopia, which suffered
  a disastrous drought and famine two years ago.
      Aweke Aynalem, head of the government's Agriculture
  Development Department, told reporters prospects were good for
  attaining the target of 250,000 tonnes of grain in the present
  growing season, one of two each year in Ethiopia.
      Normal crop production in Ethiopia is about 648,000 tonnes
  a year, of which 250,000 tonnes are produced from the "belg"
  (small) rains which fall at this time of year.
      The belg rains are used to plant quick-maturing crops like
  maize and barley. Any shortfall during this period affects
  production in the main rainy season, because farmers eat their
  stocks of seed.
      Aweke said peasants in Wello, Tigre and Hararghe -- regions
  which suffered severely from drought -- were now able to sow
  their crops because of the favourable rains.
      The government had distributed large quantities of seed and
  fertiliser, and the rains should ensure a good crop.
  

