Govt declares drought year

A raft of mitigations have also been announced (see Monitor briefs).

In a statement, the Ministry says  findings of the assessment indicate that there was a significant decline in rainfall distribution. This was coupled with a scorching heat wave, resulting in low hectorage ploughed/planted. The yield forecast for 2014/15 has drastically declined, with the national estimated production for cereals standing at 7, 382 metric tons (mt) which is 3% of the national cereal requirement of 300, 000mt.