CHAD (8 February)
A joint FAO/CILSS/FEWSNET mission has provisionally estimated cereal production in 2004/05 at 1.038 million tonnes. At this level, production is about one third lower than last year’s good output. Production of sorghum and millet, the most important food crops, is estimated to have declined by 30 percent and 43 percent, respectively, to 0.4 million tonnes and 0.3 million tonnes. The reduction in production was mainly due to inadequate rains in September in some areas of the Sahelian zone. Losses due to Desert Locusts infestation are not significant.
As of late January, the estimated number of Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad was 213 314.
WFP has finalized the new phase of EMOP 10327.0 for the period July 2005-December 2006. Some 92 000 tonnes of food are required for a total estimated cost of about US$82 million.