(not so) rainy season

We knew the rains had started late this year as we'd really only had one
good rainfall when we left for Cotonou at the beginning of July. But we
hoped they would have started to come regularly by the time we got back.
However even now at the end of July the rains are neither as regular nor
as abundant as the crops need. It doesn't matter much to us if our
garden fails, but our friends rely on their fields as their main source
of food and income, so for them it is crucial to have the necessary rain.