Farmers have been urged to cultivate the harsh conditions-resistant crops as the weatherman predicts a dry spell in some part of the country in the coming farming season-A2021.

According to the weatherman forecast, during throughout the coming three months, the country’s precipitation will be averagely below the normal rainfall range.

“The expected near normal rainfall from September to December 2020 season may lead to weather phenomena such as dry spells,” noted Amable Gahigi, the director-general of the Rwanda Meteorology Agency.

While Musanze, Rusizi, Nyabihu and Gicumbi districts are expected to have the highest precipitation ranging from 350 millimetres to 450 mm, the districts like Kayonza, Ngoma, Kirehe and Bugesera districts are expected to have the least precipitation ranging between 250 mm and 350mm.

Apart from the diminutive precipitation, the weatherman has also indicated that the rain could stop raining earlier than usual in the regions that will have the least precipitation.

ccording to the forecasts, the precipitation that could start around September 20th might stop in between December 23 and 29.

Weatherman indicates that the reduction of rainfall is expected to be a result of the unusual coldness in sub-surface waters of both equatorial pacific and indicant oceans, which will see a reduction of the advection moisture from the oceans to the region.

Given the circumstances, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources urge the farmers to start farming as earlier as possible and cultivate resistant crops.

“As the rain will stop raining earlier, we urge farmers to start farming as the rain starts raining,” said Jean Claude Izamuhaye, the Head of Department of crop research and technology transfer.