FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 10/00 - NIGER (22 September)
Reduced rains in late August/early September affected crop development. Following widespread and regular rains in July, precipitation remained generally well distributed in early and mid August. However, rains decreased significantly during the last dekad of August over the western half of the agricultural zones of the country and remained limited in early September. They improved in midSeptember but crops have been affected by the dry spell, notably in Diffa, Tahoua and Tillabery departments. As these areas are not major producing zones, overall an average harvest is anticipated. Localised flooding in Dioudou and Zabori areas, in Dosso department and in Mounts�ka and Baizo areas in Tahoua department affected many farms.
Infestations of grasshoppers are reported in various areas, notably in Diffa, Dosso, Maradi and Tahoua departments. Several thousand hectares have been treated. Treatments against grain eating birds have also been undertaken in Diffa and Tahoua departments. Scattered Desert Locusts were seen in the eastern A�r. Small scale breeding may be in progress in the western and southern parts of the A�r mountains and southern Tamesna where ecological conditions are favourable. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled in October to estimate 2000 cereal production.
Following a well above- average cereal harvest in 1999, close to the 1998 record, the overall food supply situation remains satisfactory. The national security stock has been partly reconstituted. Markets were well supplied and prices of cereals during the lean season were lower than previous years at the same period. However, following recent dry conditions and poor crop prospects, prices increased significantly.
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