Erratic rainfall and its consequences for the cultivation of teff in two adjacent areas in South Wollo, Ethiopia

The authors analysed rainfall variability at Combolcha and Hayk in Ethiopia during the short rainy season, the Belg (February–May), in the period 1964–1996 and compared the results with similar data for the period 1997–2012. These towns are located 30 km apart in South Wollo. They have similar in topography and surrounding land use but differ in the amount of rainfall they receive. Daily rainfall data from local weather stations were used as input in a rainfall model for the cultivation of teff to analyse the number of years when it a harvest was possible. After 1996, Belg rainfall declined by 25–30% at both sites. The decline was greatest in February; Combolcha received one-third of its earlier rainfall. The teff model showed that the sowing date changed from February to March in both study areas. Between 1964 and 1996, lack of rain reduced the years with a harvest to every second year in Hayk and every third year in Combolcha. In the period 1997–2012, the number of years with a harvest was slightly redu...