Please find attached the latest wheat rust advisory for 2018. This will be the last advisory for this season, as in most areas crops are at / close to harvest. This report summarizes available information for the period 30 November – 15 December and includes recently received data. Although the season is drawing to a close in many areas, there may still be a risk of stem rust outbreaks in some late planted areas – especially Bale and any late planted areas in SNNPR. Surveys are indicating a high prevalence of rusts (both stem and stripe rust) especially in the highlands of SNNPR and also in Guji zone.
This advisory tries to give an overview of the entire season.
Overall: Western Oromia, SNNPR and pockets of Bale were affected by both Stem and Stripe rust in 2018. Despite early rust appearance, a favourable season (at least the initial stages) and the presence of virulent races – other key wheat growing areas appeared to have been able to keep rusts under reasonable control.