SAHEL WEATHER AND CROP SITUATION REPORT Global Information and Early Warning System on food and agriculture Report No.5 - 11 October 2000

GOOD HARVEST PROSPECTS IN THE WEST OF THE SAHEL, MIXED OUTLOOK IN BURKINA FASO, NIGER AND CHAD

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SUMMARY

Precipitation was generally widespread and abundant over the main agricultural zones of the Sahel in July and early August, but decreased from late August to early September over the eastern half of the Sahel. It picked up in mid-September and remained generally normal to above normal until late September, except in Chad. Harvest prospects are favourable in the western countries of the Sahel and mixed in the eastern part. Above average or record crops are anticipated in The Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania and Mali. Production will increase in Guinea Bissau. Growing conditions improved in Cape Verde following recent heavy rains. In the centre of the Sahel, harvest prospects are favourable in the south and the south-west of Burkina Faso but unfavourable in the centre, the east and the north. In Niger, crops have been affected by reduced rains in late August/early September, but overall, an average harvest is anticipated. In Chad, harvest prospects are unfavourable in the Sahelian zone and mixed in the Sudanian zone. Satellite images for early October show that cloud coverage is moving southwards, which is normal. However, it is still raining in southern Senegal, southern Chad, central Niger and some areas of Mali and Burkina Faso.

Harvesting of maize and early millet has started in some countries. Crops are generally developing satisfactorily in the western half of the Sahel region while improved rains in mid-September benefited crops affected by dry spells earlier in central and eastern Burkina Faso, most parts of Niger and the Sahelian zone of Chad.

Pastures are generally abundant throughout the pastoral zones of the Sahel. Grasshopper attacks have been reported in Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal. The Desert Locust situation remained calm during September with low numbers of solitary adults and small scale breeding reported in southern and central Mauritania. Once vegetation starts to dry out, adults are likely to move on a small scale towards northern Mauritania. Elsewhere, no significant pest developments are likely.

SITUATION BY COUNTRY

BURKINA FASO  CAPE-VERDE  CHAD  GAMBIA  GUINEA-BISSAU 
MALI  MAURITANIA  NIGER  SENEGAL