Good rains from late July through August remained widespread over the main producing areas in September. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission in early October gave a provisional estimate of the aggregate output of cereals at around 3 million tonnes. This is similar to the previous year level and above average.
Harvesting has started in most regions, improving cereal supply and reducing prices on markets. Farmers should be able to reconstitute their stocks as well as the government the national security stock at its optimum level of 35 000 tonnes.