Following abundant rains in July and the first half of August, rice is being planted in the north as well as the first maize crop in the centre.
Dry conditions prevail in the south where rice and the second maize crop have been harvested.
In the eastern region, the security situation is worsening and becoming precarious. Following the escalation of violence and the intensified socio-political crisis in Burundi, many families are moving to Uvira. In mid-August, the Zairian and Rwandan governments decided to close refugee camps in Zaire by the end of May 1997. In August, an FAO Mission visited Kivu region to assess the impact of refugees on agriculture and the environment and propose emergency or rehabilitation interventions.