Following abundant rains in June and early July, precipitation decreased significantly in mid-July in the south but resumed in late July and early August. Rains again decreased in the south in mid-August but increased to well above normal in early September. The first maize crop has been harvested in the south. Millet and sorghum crops are developing satisfactorily in the north.
Following an above-average cereal harvest in 1999, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Prices of millet are generally similar to those of last year at the same period while prices of maize are somewhat higher. Cereal imports, for domestic use and re-exports, during the 2000 marketing year are estimated at 145 000 tonnes and food aid requirements at 10 000 tonnes.
Below-normal rains in the centre and east have affected crop development. In August, precipitation was generally above normal and well distributed in the south and the west, being particularly abundant during the first dekad of the month. By contrast, rainfall was below normal in August over the eastern half of the country, except in the extreme north in late August. Cumulative rainfall as of late August was below average except in the west and the south-west. Rains were inadequate in early September but improved in the middle of the month. Early millet is being harvested in the south and south-east. Overall an average harvest is anticipated.
Pastures remain adequate countrywide and the level of water reserves is satisfactory. No significant pest activity is reported. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled in October to estimate 2000 cereal production.
Following a record crop in 1999, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Markets are well supplied. Prices of millet and sorghum have started to increase in rural and urban markets. The cereal import requirement for the 1999/2000 marketing year (November/October) is estimated at 155 000 tonnes, mainly wheat and rice.
The onset of seasonal rains in late July permitted widespread maize plantings. Rains continued in early August and became more abundant in late August, notably on Fogo, Santo Ant�o and Santiago islands. However, precipitation was generally below average. Heavy rains were recorded on 25-26 September on several islands. Crops are emerging satisfactorily and pastures are regenerating well. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled in late October to estimate 2000 cereal production.
1999 maize production has been estimated at a record 36 400 tonnes which is much higher than in 1998 and the last five-year average. Following this record crop, the overall food supply situation improved in rural areas affected by several successive poor crops. However, the bumper 1999 production will cover only about a quarter of consumption requirement, but available stocks and planned commercial imports or food aid for the year 2000 will be sufficient to cover the deficit. With these regular cereal imports, markets are well supplied and prices remain stable. The cereal import requirement for the 1999/2000 marketing year is estimated at 75 000 tonnes of which 50 000 tonnes are expected to be received as food aid. As of mid-September, 72 000 tonnes of food aid had been pledged and 46 500 tonnes had been received.
Crop development is satisfactory in the Sudanian zone but unfavourable in the Sahelian zone. Following well distributed and generally above-average rains in July, notably during the third dekad, precipitation remained adequate during August in the Sudanian and the Sudano-Sahelian zones but below average in the Sahelian zone. Precipitation remained abundant in early September except in the east of the Sahelian zone. Coarse grain crops are growing satisfactorily in the Sudanian zone. By contrast, in the Sahelian zone, where millet and sorghum are tillering/elongating, more rains are needed to meet water needs at this critical phase of their development.
Pastures are abundant both in the Sahelian and Sudanian zones. Grasshopper attacks have been reported in Chari-Baguirmi, Lac and Ouadda� regions. Grain eating birds caused some damage to millet and maize in Gu�ra prefecture (in Mangalm� area). No Desert Locusts activity is reported while some Migratory Locusts have been seen in Ati area along the Batha river. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled in October to estimate 2000 cereal production.
Following an above-average harvest in 1999, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Farmers have replenished stocks for the second consecutive year or sold cereals to compensate for low cotton incomes and poor groundnut production. As a result, prices of cereals remained mostly stable during the lean season and were lower than in previous years in both Sudanian and Sahelian zones. However, they seasonably started to increase in August in some areas. In August, WFP launched a food aid distribution for about 150 000 persons in the Sahelian zone. The cereal import requirement for the 1999/2000 marketing year is estimated at 67 000 tonnes, including 12 000 tonnes of food aid.
Abundant precipitation covered the northern half of the country in late July and early August while the southern half remained seasonably dry. Rains decreased in mid and late August but became more regular during the third dekad of September. In the south, the first maize crop has been harvested and the second one is now emerging. In the north, millet and sorghum are developing satisfactorily.
Following an above-average cereal harvest in 1999, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. The cereal import requirement in 2000 is estimated at 675 000 tonnes, mainly rice and wheat. Some 86 000 Liberian refugees and 1 500 Sierra Leoneans remain in the west.
Crop development is generally satisfactory. Following widespread and above-average rains from late June to early August, precipitation decreased significantly during the second dekad of August. However, rains improved in late August and remained abundant in early September, preventing crop water stress. Coarse grains and upland rice crops are developing satisfactorily, while recently transplanted rice is emerging or tillering. Harvest prospects are favourable. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled in October to estimate 2000 cereal production.
Following a record crop in 1999, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory and markets are well supplied. Cereal imports for domestic use and re-export during the 1999/2000 marketing year are estimated at 114 000 tonnes.
Following above-average rains in late July and early August, precipitation decreased in mid and late August but improved, notably in the centre, in early September. The first maize crop has been harvested in the south. Millet and sorghum are developing satisfactorily in the north.
Reflecting an average cereal harvest in 1999, the food supply situation is tight in some areas, notably for populations affected by floods in 1999 in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions. WFP provided emergency assistance to some vulnerable people. About 10 000 Liberian refugees remain in the country. Cereal imports during the 2000 marketing year are estimated at 485 000 tonnes and the food aid requirement at 46 000 tonnes.
The evolution of the rainy season has been somewhat irregular. Abundant rains in early and mid-July were followed by more limited rains up to mid-August. Precipitation became particularly abundant countrywide during the last dekad of August and decreased in early September, notably in the east. Coarse grains are generally developing satisfactorily.
Following a record cereal harvest in 1999, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Markets are well supplied both in urban and rural areas. Surpluses were available in the Guin�e Maritime and Guin�e Foresti�re regions. Some 445 000 refugees remain in the country (120 000 from Liberia and 325 000 from Sierra Leone), located mainly in Gueck�dou, For�cariah and N'Z�r�kore areas. They are receiving food assistance and are considered at moderate nutritional risk. Clashes between Guinean forces and fighters from Sierra Leone erupted in early September, displacing at least 1 000 Guineans.
Rice seedlings have been transplanted following desalination of swamp rice fields. Rains were regular and well distributed in early August. They decreased significantly during the second dekad of the month but became particularly abundant countrywide during the third dekad of August and in early September. These strong rains benefited development of coarse grains in the east and north and the rice crop recently transplanted from seedbeds in the swamp rice fields.
Pastures are abundant. The pest situation remains calm. Some insect attacks have been reported in the south. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled in October to estimate 2000 cereal production.
The 1999 cereal production was above 1998 level but below the 1997/98 pre-crisis level and below average. The overall food supply situation has improved this year compared to 1999. However, some population groups with low purchase power are still facing food supply difficulties, notably in urban areas.
Following generally widespread and abundant rains in May and June, which benefited rice planting, precipitation decreased in July but became well above average in early August. By contrast, rains remained limited or ceased from mid-August to early September in the south. Here dry conditions may have affected crop development. As in previous years, inputs were distributed by several NGOs in various areas. Marketing remains a major constraint as processing facilities and transport infrastructure are very poor. Post-harvest losses are also reported to be high.
With the exception of Lofa County, where an upsurge of civil disturbances erupted in June/July, relative peace in most areas has been beneficial for farming. The cultivated area of rice, the staple crop, should increase. It is estimated that about three quarters of Internally Displaced Persons have returned home and the remaining quarter may settle where they are.
Food aid distributions continue but the quantities received have decreased significantly. Humanitarian activities are evolving from emergency distributions and food for work towards development programmes. WFP is distributing food aid to about 420 000 Liberian returnees. UNHCR is also assisting 33 000 Sierra Leonean refugees in camps in Montserrado and Sinje areas in Grand Cape Mount County.
Growing conditions are generally favourable. Following generally well distributed and regular rains in June and July, precipitation remained abundant in early August. Rains decreased in mid-August, notably in the west, but they were above normal during the last dekad. Torrential rains causing 15 deaths were recorded on 25 August in Abe�bara, north of Kidal. Precipitation remained widespread but decreased in early September. Crops are generally growing satisfactorily despite some water stress reported in the centre-north. Millet and sorghum are in the elongation or heading stages and rainfed rice is tillering/elongating. Irrigated rice is emerging in the Office Mopti and S�gou irrigated areas while it is tillering/elongating in the Office du Niger zone.
Pastures are generally good. Grasshopper attacks were reported in the Sahelian zone and treatments have been undertaken. Low numbers of Desert Locusts may be present and breeding on a small scale in the Adrar des Iforas. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled in October to estimate 2000 cereal production.
Following two successive bumper crops, the overall food situation is satisfactory. Markets are well supplied and cereal prices are much lower than in previous years. The national early warning system (SAP) estimated that only 2 arrondissements out of the 173 it monitors in the centre and the north (namely Baye in the Bankass cercle and Diankabou in the Koro cercle), were moderately at risk of food shortages in 2000 following floods which destroyed rice crops in 1999. The cereal import requirement for the 1999/2000 marketing year is estimated at 100 000 tonnes of wheat and rice.
Crop development is satisfactory reflecting generally widespread and adequate rains. Following abundant rains in late July, precipitation remained generally widespread and above normal in August. Substantial rains were registered in late August in Assaba and Gorgol. Following these good rains, crops are developing satisfactorily. Late plantings or replantings lasted up to late August.
Pastures are adequate countrywide. Grasshopper attacks have been reported in Brakna and Gorgol. A total of 878 hectares have been treated against grain eating birds, notably in Trarza. Low numbers of Desert Locusts were present during August in southern Brakna, Trarza and the two Hodhs. Small scale breeding is in progress in Brakna and will continue in the other areas. There may be a slight shift of populations towards the west when vegetation starts to dry. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled in October to estimate 2000 cereal production.
The food situation improved in rural areas following a favourable harvest in rainfed areas in 1999. Markets are well supplied. However, some populations remained vulnerable in some areas of Aftout and Affol�, Tagant, southern Assaba and the two Hodhs following reduced harvests. Food distributions have been undertaken in Brakna, Gorgol, Tagant and Trarza for populations affected by large floods in late 1999. The cereal import requirement for the 1999/2000 marketing year is estimated at 260 000 tonnes (excluding re-exports) and the food aid requirement at 25 000 tonnes.
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 mid-September 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.
Reflecting widespread and regular rains since early July, crop development is generally favourable. The first maize crop has been harvested in the south. Below-normal precipitation in late August/early September in the extreme north may cause water stress or crop failure.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Some population, however, remain vulnerable following flooding in late 1999 in five States (Sokoto, Adamwara, Borno, Kwara and Niger). New flooding in 2000 inundated hundreds of hectares of farmland in Sokoto area in the north-west.
Following abundant rains in late July and early August which caused localized flooding in Dakar, Louga and Saint Louis areas, rains decreased significantly during the second dekad of August but resumed in late August, except in the north. Soil water reserves were generally sufficient to cover crop needs and crop development is reported to be normal in all the agro-ecological zones. However, reduced rains in the north in late August/early September and in the south-east in early September may cause water stress.
Pastures have regenerated satisfactorily following strong rains in late July/early August. Grasshopper attacks have been reported in Bambey, Gossas, M'Bour, Tivaouane and Thi�s departments. Insect and rodent infestations are also reported. As of 29 August, 41 500 hectares had been treated of which 17 000 hectares against grasshoppers. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled in October to estimate 2000 cereal production.
According to national statistical services, aggregate cereal production in 1999 is estimated at a record of 1 256 000 tonnes (with rice in paddy equivalent), which is 35 percent above 1998 and 34 percent above the five-year average. The overall food situation is satisfactory. Markets are well supplied and the price of rice is stable. Prices of local cereals remained also mostly stable during the lean stable. The cereal import requirement for the 1999/2000 marketing year is estimated at 760 000 tonnes, including 450 000 tonnes of rice.
Resurgence of civil disturbances in early May seriously disrupted agricultural activities at the critical planting period of the rice crop, the main staple. Due to insecurity, input distribution and on-going relief operations were suspended or seriously disrupted, notably in the north. The security situation improved from June/July but remains tense. Growing conditions were generally satisfactory. Following abundant rains in early and mid-July, precipitation decreased from late July to mid-August but improved significantly in late August and early September. Rice crop is now in the elongation phase but planted areas are likely to be significantly below last year's level and a reduced harvest is anticipated.
In addition to the 160 000 Internally Displaced Persons already registered, up to 150 000 new IDPs have been registered in the south and the west following the upsurge of fighting in May. About half a million persons have also been displaced and hosted by local communities in government controlled areas while it is estimated that 1 million persons are affected by the war in rebel controlled areas and are not accessible to humanitarian agencies. An estimated 420 000 Sierra Leonean refugees also remain in neighbouring West African countries, mostly in Guinea (more than 300 000) and in Liberia. Despite the hostilities, WFP and NGOs continued food distributions to approximately 100 000 beneficiaries. WFP reports a food pipeline shortfall of 1 774 tonnes of cereals until the end of September and 9 000 tonnes until the end of the year. With the rainy season, the food supply situation has deteriorated as many areas remain inaccessible due to transport problems. Recent assessments in Bumbuna and Daru areas reported high food needs among IDPs as road access is impossible due to insecurity. The country will continue to suffer a chronic food deficit and to be dependent on external aid for the foreseeable future.
Reflecting generally widespread rains, crops are developing satisfactorily. In the south, the first maize crop has been harvested while the second maize crop is emerging/tillering. In the north, coarse grains benefited from regular rains since July, except in mid-August.
Following a record cereal harvest in 1999, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. However, people affected by floods in the regions of Kara (in the north), Plateaux (in the west), Maritime (in the south) and Savanes (in the extreme north) remain vulnerable during the lean season.
Back
to menu