BURKINA FASO: Coarse grains are reaching maturation stage with crops affected by moisture stress in some areas. During the last dekad of September, rainfall increased compared to the second dekad and was above normal everywhere except in Fada N'Gourma. Up to 86.6 mm was registered in six days at Bobo Dioulasso in the west and 68.9 mm in four days at Ouahigouya in the north west. In early October, precipitation decreased but remained widespread over the entire country, except some areas of the west. Therefore, growing conditions remain generally favourable. Nevertheless, in the east and north of the Sahel region and in localized areas of the "Hauts Bassins", dry spells in early or mid-September affected crops. Crop condition is also reported to be poor in the centre from Yalgo to Ziniare on the Ouagadougou-Dori axis. Elsewhere, crops are growing satisfactorily. Maize and sorghum are flowering in the south and the west, while rainfed rice is maturing or heading in the low-lying areas. Millet is flowering and sorghum is elongating/heading in the north.
Pastures are adequate. They are more scarce in the Sahel region due to low rainfall received in September. This also impeded the complete reconstitution of the "mare de Dori" which may lead to water availability problems for herders or the local population in 1996. The pest situation is calm. Some grasshopper infestations are reported in Bogandé, Fada and Sebba areas. Treatments have been undertaken.
A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled from 23 to 29 October to assess the crop situation and estimate 1995 cereal production.
CAPE-VERDE: Crop condition is satisfactory reflecting abundant rains in late September on almost all islands. Substantial rains (although not torrential with wind) were received on 21 and 29-30 September over most islands, benefiting maize and bean crops. On Santiago island, crops are at heading or maturation stage in the humid zones, in the elongation phase in the semi-arid zones. On the other islands, the development of maize and beans crops vary; some water stress occurred in low or arid zones.
Pastures are abundant and will allow a good reconstitution of fodder. The pest situation is calm. Localized treatments have been undertaken against grasshoppers.
A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled from 23 to 27 October to assess the crop situation and estimate 1995 cereal production.
CHAD: Widespread rains in September allowed a normal crop development in all agro-climatic zones. During the first and third dekads of September rains have been abundant and widespread in the south and more limited in the centre. By contrast, during the second dekad precipitation was weak in the south while it was satisfactory in the centre. In early October, precipitation increased in the Sahelian zone and remained abundant in the Sudanian zone. Millet is generally maturing except in the centre and west of the sahelian zone where it is flowering. The harvest has begun in the sudanian zone. Sorghum, maize and groundnut crops are maturing in the sahelian and sudano-sahelian areas and are being harvested in the sudanian zone.
Pastures are good. A few isolated mature Desert Locusts were reported in the south of Fada in early September. Scattered adults have concentrated and persist in remaining areas of green vegetation following retreating of the rains in northern Batha, eastern Kanem and eastern Biltine. Grasshoppers attacks on crops are reported from various areas of the sahelian zone.
A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled from 16 to 20 October to assess the crop situation and estimate 1995 cereal production.
GAMBIA: Harvest prospects are promising reflecting above-normal and widespread rains during the growing season. Heavy rains were received in September, notably during the second dekad. Cumulative rainfall as of 20 September is above last year's level in all meteorological stations and generally already above the total seasonal country normal. The crop outlook is generally promising. The major activity during the first and second dekad of September was the transplanting and weeding of rice fields. Harvest of early millet and maize fields has started in the Central River and Upper River Divisions. Late millet and sorghum are tillering and flowering, especially in Western and Upper River Divisions. The moisture conditions generally favoured rapid crop growth and there is still enough water supply in the upland rice fields suitable for the late transplanting of upland rice. Rice is at different development phases around the country, ranging from transplanting to heading.
Pastures are generally satisfactory countrywide, thus reducing distances for animal grazing and watering. The pest situation remains mostly calm. Aphids and blister beetles were observed in cereal fields, notably on early millet. Striga also developed in September. Treatments have been undertaken.
An FAO Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled from 39 October to 3 November to assess the crop situation and estimate 1995 cereal production.
GUINEA-BISSAU: A good harvest is anticipated reflecting regular and widespread rains. Substantial rains continued to fall in September, notably during the second dekad. They decreased somewhat during the third dekad but remained widespread and continued in early October. Sorghum is now being harvested. Millet and upland rice are flowering/maturing or even reaching harvesting stage. Current indications point to a production above last year's above-average level.
Pastures are abundant. No pest activity is reported.
A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled from 23 to 27 October to assess the crop situation and estimate 1995 cereal production.
MALI: Following widespread rains, crops are developing satisfactorily. In the centre and the south, rains remained sufficient and widespread in September. Precipitation decreased during the last dekad of September, notably in the centre (Ségou region), the north and the extreme west (Kayes region) where satellite images show no clouds. By contrast, clouds moved northwards and precipitation increased significantly in the west during the first week of October. Cumulative rainfall as of 20 September are generally normal to above normal, but below last year's level. Water levels on Bani and Niger river valley are increasing and are above normal. In the south and the west, millet and sorghum are flowering, maize is maturing and rainfed rice is elongating. In Nioro area, millet is heading, sorghum is elongating and maize is maturing. In Mopti and Ségou areas, irrigated rice is tillering.
Pastures are abundant over the entire country and the condition of waterpoints is satisfactory. Substantial grasshopper and cantharid infestations are reported on pastures and millet/sorghum crop in all the Sahelian area, but damage to crops is limited.
A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled from 23 to 29 October to assess the crop situation and estimate 1995 cereal production.
MAURITANIA: Above-normal rains in September benefited crop development but also favoured Desert Locust infestations. Following widespread precipitation in the south and the centre in August, rains reached the centre-west during the first half of September (Adrar and Tagant areas) where they were unusually heavy and improved growing conditions. They decreased during the last dekad and became more scattered but resumed in early October. In the north and the east rainfall became particularly heavy in late September, reaching generally above 40 mm. Crop development is generally satisfactory.
Pastures are satisfactory but have begun to dry up in the south-west and south-east of the country. During the first three weeks of September, infestations of Desert Locust were confined to south-western Trarza. As a result of a significant increase in ground and aerial control operations which treated more than 21 000 hectares, the situation improved progressively and by late September only groups of immature adults persisted. Several mature swarms first appeared and started to lay also in areas of recent rains south of Nouakchott. Some of these continued to move north along the coast to Nouakchott and beyond. Other small groups of adults and a small swarm moved northwards in the interior near Boutilimit. Control operations were carried out against these infestations during the last week of September, treating 3 960 hectares.
A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled from 27 October to 1 November to assess the crop situation and estimate 1995 cereal production.
NIGER: Above normal rains in early October benefited coarse grain crops about to be harvested. Satellite imagery indicates that clouds moved southwards during the last dekad of September, but remained over the main producing areas of the west and the east, and moved northwards during the first dekad of October, reaching an unusual northern latitude for this period of the year. Precipitation increased significantly in the centre, thus providing relief and good soil moisture reserves to crops which may have been affected by dry conditions in late September. Millet and sorghum are now heading/maturing but their development in more delayed in some areas, notably in Tanout arrondissement where plantings were still reported in early September. Harvesting of niebe has started.
Pastures are abundant but beginning to dry. During the first two dekads of September, Desert Locust infestations have been reported in the extreme south-east at a few places near Kabelaoua and localized damage occurred to crops. Scattered adults were also reported near Maradi and scattered adults and hoppers persisted near Tillabery. Some concentration may occur as vegetation dries up. The situation was unclear in Tamesna and Air where no surveys were undertaken during August and September.
A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled from 30 October to 2 November to assess the crop situation and estimate 1995 cereal production.
SENEGAL: Widespread above-normal rains in early October compensated for reduced precipitation in late September. Rains were widespread and abundant during the first two dekads of September and decreased during the third dekad. No clouds were visible in the north-east (Matam and Bakel regions) and precipitation was generally below normal in the north and the centre of the country in late September. By contrast, in early October, precipitation increased significantly throughout the country, notably in the east and the south. Thus, crops which may have suffered water stress in late September could recover and soil moisture reserves will be reconstituted for the development of the late-planted crops.
The pest situation remains generally calm. A Desert Locust swarm was seen in northern Senegal in mid-September. Control operations covered a total of 33 hectares of residual hopper bands in the Saint-Louis and Louga areas in late August. Low numbers of adult groups and perhaps a few small swarms are likely to cross into the Senegal River Valley from the north and slowly move southwards. A few of these swarms, if mature, may lay in areas of green vegetation.
A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled from 16 to 20 October to assess the crop situation and estimate 1995 cereal production.
