By contrast, well below average “diraac/soughoum” rains (March-June) have affected rangeland resources in south-eastern border areas and the Obock region in the north-east, resulting in an early start of the lean season, reports the FAO.

In these areas, livestock body conditions and productivity have declined from July onwards and improvements are not expected until next October with the onset of the “heys/dada” rainy season (October-February).

Prices are stable for cereal but significant increase observed for vegetables

Wholesale prices of wheat flour have been quite stable since December 2012.

In June 2013, wheat flour was traded in Djibouti wholesale market slightly more than $600 per tonne, about 12.5 per cent above the level of one year before, but still about 25 per cent below the record level of about $800 per tonne registered during most of year 2011.

Prices of rice (Belem), mainly consumed in urban areas, were stable since the beginning of 2013 at $585 per tonne.

However, prices of fresh vegetables (onions, tomatoes, eggplants, etc.), which represents about 15 per cent of the local food basket, have increased by about 50 per cent between March and June 2013.

The increase is mainly due to the unfavourable production of vegetables gathered in some areas of Ethiopia that export their products to Djibouti.