Rural poverty in developing tropical countries has a seasonal dimension. There is a simultaneous prevalence of sickness, malnutrition, indebtedness, hard work, discomfort and poor food availability at certain times of the year, usually during the rains.

This period before harvest - 'the hungry season' - is one of considerable stress for rural people, exacerbating their poverty. Poor people are less able to cope with this regular period of stress than rich people, who can usually exploit it to their benefit. The difficulties and stress experienced on a seasonal basis are, of course,anticipated by poor rural people: they are a regular event to be navigated each year.

There are different ways of coping - of moving resources around - in ways that relate to productive activities and social and demographic mechanisms. Some of these mechanisms are described in this Bulletin. In calling this issue 'Seasonality and Poverty', the focus is on how seasonality affects poor people, how they respond to it and how development can assist them in the face of these stresses.