Fall Harvest

It is that time of year again, the fall season. When we think of fall we think about watching the leaves change colors, reluctantly accepting the shorter days, watching Sunday football, drinking hot chocolate, and going to the pumpkin patch. We love fall, even on the days where the rain and fog fill the air! In Oregon the rainy season has just begun and will last until after April. In Ethiopia the long rainy season, which starts in June, is just ending. Although in both Oregon and Ethiopia this time of year is considered the season of harvest, in Oregon we call it the "fall season" while in Ethiopia it is considered the spring season, "Tseday."

Curious as to what Ethiopia identifies as their rainy and dry seasons? 

~ The western half of Ethiopia has two distinct seasons. From June-September it is considerably wet and then dry from November-February. The peak time for rainfall occurs from July to August.  

~ The central and most of the eastern part of the country have two rainy periods and one dry period.  The rainy seasons are know as Kiremt (heavy rains) from June –September, and Belg (light rains) from February-May. The dry season, known as the Bega season, lasts form October-January. The Kirmet rains are essential because 90-95 percent of the food is produced during this main crop season. This is when most parts of the country receive 60-90 percent of their rainfall, so drought during the Kiremt season may lead to a shortage of food. Although the Belg harvest can provide up to 50 percent of the yearly food supply in the some highland areas, it typically accounts for only 5 to 10 percent of the total annual grain production of the country.

~ The south and southeastern parts of Ethiopia have two distinct dry periods, December-February and July-August, and two rain seasons March-June and September-November. The main rain season is referred to as the belg rains because it occurs from March-June.  

The rainy seasons in Ethiopia can not only impact their food production but also their daily living. In fact during the heavy rain season, which can cause flooding, the Ethiopian courts actually close for about seven weeks. We have learned to appreciate every season, rain or shine.  

“Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.”   ~ Henry David Thoreau