KEY MESSAGES
• The end of the lean season ushered in some relief as many poor rural households are now accessing food from their own harvest. Food insecurity outcomes through June are projected to be Minimal (IPC Phase 1) throughout the country as food needs for poor rural households continue to be supplemented with humanitarian assistance.
• As suggested by recent satellite imagery showing stressed vegetation conditions, dry spells and poorly distributed rainfall from late January through March has negatively impacted crop growth and development (Figure 2). These factors, in addition to the late start of the season and armyworm infestations, are likely to have a negative impact on crop yields for the 2012/13 main harvest.
• With the 2012/13 main harvests expected to be lower than anticipated at the beginning of the agricultural season in October, poor rural households are likely to deplete their food stocks within three months of harvest. In the presence of humanitarian assistance, Stressed (IPC Phase 2) acute food insecurity outcomes are projected among poor rural householdsfrom July through September.