Terms like Spring and Summer have little relevancy in Tloma. Instead, year-round, moderate weather is punctuated by two rainy seasons – one long (March through mid-June) and one short (November and December). Crop plantings are planned around these two seasons.
Maize and beans are the main staples and are planted prior to the long season to be watered during the rain, then dried and harvested in the following months, followed by another crop planting prior to the short rain. In 2019, the long rain failed to materialize, and Tloma families generally harvested 40% or less than normal, leaving almost every family hungry.
When rains clouds began to appear in late October, beans were planted. When the short rain period started a little early, hopes ran high. Families were rewarded with a good bean harvest in early January. Some beans are picked fresh, but most are dried on the vine then pounded with sticks or other heavy objects to separate the beans from their shells. These are purple beans. They are dried in the sun until ready to be stored in bags. But the wet season was reluctant to leave. As soon as a few days dried the soil sufficiently, more maize and beans were planted to take advantage of the upcoming seasonal dry weeks. The bright green of early maize leaves soon contrasted brightly against the russet soil. 
But every day seemed to bring showers, and many brought torrents of water that flooded the fields, leaching them of needed nutrients. As a result, the plants have grown pale and weak, leading to them being brutally attacked by insects and disease. The hopes for food to fill the bare pantries is quickly fading.
And, now, there are locusts. While Tloma village has not yet seen them, locusts have decimated fields in other areas of Tanzania and other African countries. Even if they don’t appear in Tloma, the national cost of food will escalate and prices for maize and beans especially will be higher than this past year when they almost doubled as a result of the drought. We had hoped to take down the Tloma Lunch GoFundMe account, but it appears it may be needed even more this year if children are to get at least one full meal per day by having lunch at school.
And the Corona Virus has now begun to make its appearance in Tanzania. Let’s hope Tanzania’s early closing of its borders will reduce the impact as their medical facilities are already inadequate and will certainly not be able to handle large numbers of sick patients.