In the south, following the start of the rainy season in late March which allowed the planting of the first maize crop, rains decreased in late April and resumed in early May. Precipitation became abundant in late May but decreased in mid-June. The maize crop is developing satisfactorily, as well as niebe and groundnuts. In the north, rainfall was abundant in mid May and decreased at the end of the month. The planting of millet and sorghum has started.
The food supply situation is satisfactory but prices remain high in rural areas. Food availability has improved following imports of maize and niebe from Nigeria but trade in rural markets is limited by farming activities. The cereal import for 1996 (including re-export) is estimated at 255 000 tons mostly wheat and rice. There are approximately 20 000 assisted Togolese refugees remaining in the country, whose nutritional status is reported to be satisfactory. The repatriation process is expected to continue.
The first significant rains reached the south-west of the country in early-April, allowing land preparation to start. They progressed northwards in mid-April and early-May and became abundant in the centre and the south in mid and late May. In early June, they reached the extreme north but decreased in the south and the centre. Precipitation continued to decrease significantly over most parts of the country during the second dekad of June, with dry weather persisting up to 10 days in many areas. These dry conditions are likely to affect the recently planted coarse grains and will necessitate substantial replantings if rains do not resume in late June. There was a report of Desert Locusts near Kaya in the north-east on 5 May.
Although 1995 cereal production remained about average, food supply difficulties are reported in some traditionally deficit areas affected by a poor crop in 1995. Following an international appeal for emergency assistance for 700 000 people in 17 provinces considered most at risk, donors have agreed to release 8 200 tons of cereals from the national security stock and committed to replenish it from local purchases following next harvest. These cereals will be sold at a subsidized price of 60 F.CFA per kg in the affected areas (against a consumer price usually ranging between 90 and 120 F.CFA in mid-May). In the other regions, markets are generally well supplied and cereals prices remain mostly stable. Tuareg refugees who have fled from Mali in the last five years (mainly since June 1994) are also currently receiving food assistance. UNHCR and WFP estimate their total number at 39 000, of whom 33 000 are receiving food assistance in refugee camps. The cereal import requirement for the 1995/96 marketing year (November/October) is estimated at 140 000 tons and the food aid requirement at 38 000 tons. As of mid-June 32 600 tons have been pledged of which about 25 000 tons delivered so far.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Plantings of maize normally start in July following the onset of the rains. Maize production in 1995 has been revised slightly downwards from 9 000 tons to 7 900 tons, which is below average but it represents three times the poor harvest of 1994.
Despite a limited harvest, markets are well supplied and the overall food supply situation is satisfactory, as the country imports the bulk of its consumption requirement. In 1996, the cereal import requirement is estimated at 90 000 tons, most of which is in the form of food aid. About 20 000 tons have been pledged so far of which 6 000 tons have been delivered.
Following the first rains in the extreme south in mid-March, more regular rains were registered in the south from mid- April. They decreased in mid-May but resumed in late May and progressed northwards during the first two dekads of June. Seasonably dry conditions prevail in the Sahelian zone. Plantings of coarse grains are underway in the south and will progress northwards following the onset of regular rains.
Movements of Desert Locust adult groups and possibly a few small swarms are expected to arrive from the west in the Kanem region and move further east towards Ennedi and Biltine regions. If rainfall occurs, these will probably persist and lay eggs.
Following two successive good harvests, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Nevertheless, growing difficulties are reported in Kanem region, notably in Mao and Nokou areas, where markets are not well supplied, cereal prices are particularly high and seasonal migrations are high. Supply difficulties and high cereal prices are also reported in Biltine prefecture, notably in Arada and Iriba areas and in Ab�ch�-Rural area in northern Ouadda� prefecture. The national early warning system estimated that a total of 333 000 persons were vulnerable to food shortages in villages of the prefectures of Kanem, Biltine, Batha, Ouadda�, Lac and Chari-Baguirmi. It estimated that about 9 600 tons of food aid was needed for a period of 4 months beginning April/May 1996. Cereals can be drawn from the national food security reserve. The fall in domestic crop production in 1995 has lead to a slight increase in cereal import requirement for 1995/96, which is estimated at 65 000 tons of wheat and rice. The imported food aid requirement is estimated at 2 000 tons. However, 21 000 tons have been pledged and 13 000 tons delivered so far.
The rainy season which started in early March is well underway in the south and the centre and the first maize crop is growing satisfactorily. Rains became abundant in the north in mid-May, allowing the planting of millet and sorghum. Heavy rains in early June caused a flooding in Abidjan and damaged infrastructures. Precipitation decreased in mid-June, notably in the north where the weather remained dry during the second dekad of the month.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. The government temporarily restricted rice imports in March/April so importers could sell excess stocks. This caused a drop in prices and might discourage some farmers from planting rice. Approximately 305 000 Liberian refugees remain in C�te d�Ivoire. WFP and UNHCR have implemented a strategy for phasing out self sufficient Liberian refugees from free food distribution. As a result, only 250 000 refugees have been retained for food distribution. Some small scale repatriation has occurred since the earlier peace agreement in Liberia though fighting in Monrovia in early April caused further population movement within C�te d'Ivoire.
Seasonably dry conditions prevailed up to early June, when first rains reached the country and allowed land preparation to start. Wet plantings will progress in the weeks ahead following the establishment of the rains.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. The rice market is well supplied but prices are higher than last year, due to higher international prices. The cereal import requirement for the 1995/96 marketing year (November/October) is estimated at 100 000 tons and the food aid requirement at 11 000 tons. So far 4 000 tons have been pledged and 1 000 tons delivered.
The rainy season started in early March over the centre of the country, rains decreased in late March and resumed in April, allowing the planting of the first maize crop which is growing well, following very abundant rains in late May. Precipitation remained abundant in early June but decreased in mid-June.
Following a good cereal harvest and an increase in roots and tubers production, the food supply situation is favourable. UNHCR started to repatriate 9 000 Togolese refugees and announced the repatriation of the 60 000 Togolese remaining in Ghana. Violence breakdown in Liberia delayed the repatriation of 14 000 Liberian refugees.
Following the start of rains in late March in the extreme south, the planting of the first maize crop is almost finished in this area. It is underway in the centre and the north of the country where rains became widespread during the second and third dekad of May. In June, precipitation decreased in the south but remained abundant in the north- west.
The food supply situation is satisfactory. For the 1996 marketing year (January/December), the cereal import requirement is estimated at 300 000 tons of wheat and rice. Following the regional phasing out strategy now implemented as in C�te d�Ivoire, some 113 000 Liberian refugees are continuing to receive food assistance during the first part of the year under general distribution while an additional 100 000 could be assisted within targeted feeding programmes. There are presently some 400 000 Liberian refugees and 200 000 Sierra Leonean refugees in the country of whom 536 000 were receiving food aid in April. Fighting in Liberia may have lead to an increase in refugees.
The first rains reached the east in mid-May and covered almost the entire country in late May. They remained widespread in early and mid-June. Land preparation for the planting of coarse grains is underway in the east and the north. Planting of rice in seedbeds has also started. Transplanting will occur in July/August after desalination of swamp rice fields.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Markets are well supplied and prices remain mostly stable. Cereal imports for domestic use and re-exports in 1996 are estimated at 70 000 tons, mostly rice. Structural food aid requirement is estimated at 6 000 tons.
Following the resurgence of civil strife in April, the security situation in Monrovia improved in early June. Commercial and economic activities have begun to recover slowly and road access is improving to the centre of the country, though skirmishes continue in some places. Fighting is reported in the south-east, in Grand Gedeh region, resulting in population displacement. Food assistance is being provided to displaced persons in and around Monrovia. Cross-border delivery of food has been undertaken from C�te d�Ivoire to Nimba and Bong counties, as well as trans- shipments from Monrovia to Buchanan. Large scale emergency assistance will continue to be required throughout 1996 and possibly in 1997.
The rainy season started in late March in the south-east and in mid April in the north-west, allowing the planting of coarse grains. Following widespread rains in May and the first half of June over the entire country, the planting of rice is well underway in relatively secure areas. Any recovery in domestic production in 1996 will depend mainly on the security situation in rural areas. Extensive and continuous population displacement has left large tracts of agricultural land deserted, whilst insecurity in settled areas outside the ECOMOG controlled zone make it difficult for farmers to store seed for planting. As a result, most are dependent on emergency seed distribution programmes. The lack of security has also discouraged weeding and crop protection activities in several settled areas with high potential. As a consequence, rice and cassava production in 1995 declined by as much as 77 percent and 50 percent respectively from levels before the civil war.
Following first scattered rains in the extreme south in late April and early May, substantial rains were registered in mid and late May in the south. They decreased in early June, but resumed in mid-June in the centre. Land preparation is underway and first planting has started. These will progress northwards following the onset of the rains.
Small swarms of Desert Locust adults were reported from Aguelhoc and in the Timetrine area at Tinkar in mid-April. Locust numbers and densities increased in the following weeks and several swarms were reported. Damage occurred on trees. During 2-8 May, there were reports of swarms and groups of adults coming from the north in several wadis near Aguelhoc and in the Tilemsi Valley. There were other reports of flying adults and swarms from Tamesna to the eastern side of the Adrar des Iforas. Isolated adults were seen at several places in the town of Gao on 20 May. Laying may have occurred in northern areas that received sufficient rains during April and, if so, hoppers are almost certainly present at some places along the Tilemsi Valley. Locust numbers are expected to increase as adults arrive from the north. These will mature and lay eggs in the Adrar des Iforas and Tamesna if rainfall occurs.
Following two favourable harvests in succession, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. On 13 June, the tax on imported rice was reduced, which decreased the average price of imported rice from 300 F.CFA to 270 F.CFA. Local rice is currently sold between 275 and 285 F.CFA. Some areas are facing difficulties following a poor harvest, notably in the structurally deficit areas of the north. The national early warning system indicates that the three arrondissements of Bamba, Bourem central and T�m�ra of Bourem circle in Gao region are facing food shortages and are receiving food aid, estimated at a total of 4 000 tons of cereals for about 64 500 persons over 7 months. In addition, several other arrondissements of Bandiagara, Djenn� and T�nenkou circles in Mopti region, of Abeibara, Kidal, Tessalit and Tin Essako circles in Kidal region as well as the arrondissements of Dou�kir� and Goudam in Tombouctou region and N�Tillit and Almoustarat in Gao region are at risk of food shortages. For the affected population of some 317 100 persons in these areas, the early warning system recommends a total of 8 567 tons of food aid. Elsewhere, the food supply situation is reported to be satisfactory. Assistance will also be necessary for the Tuaregs who have started to return from Mauritania in Kidal region: 60 tons for the camp of Annefis (950 persons) and 20 tons for the camp of Inabague (300 persons). Some surplus coarse grains are available in the south and can be mobilized to cover food aid needs mentioned above. For the 1995/96 marketing year (November/October), the cereal import requirement is estimated at 105 000 tons and food aid requirement at 25 000 tons. As of mid-June, 7 000 tons have been pledged of which 5 000 tons have been delivered.
Mostly seasonably dry conditions prevail, although some scattered rains may have been received locally in the south- east in early June and in the south in mid-June. Plantings of coarse grains will start following the onset of regular rains, which normally begin in July.
Desert Locust swarms appeared from the north near the Moroccan border in early April. There were more than 30 reports of swarms throughout the month by survey teams, locals and travellers. Sizes, densities and general direction of movement were difficult to assess because they were often flying high due to hot temperatures, and some swarms may have been reported several times. One was up to 14 km by 6 km in size. Most of the swarms were immature. Control operations were hampered by weather conditions though 360 hectares were treated near Tmeimichat on the 15-16th. During the first half of May, there were ten reports of swarms in Adrar, Tagant and Inchiri. Most of these were flying south. Isolated and low numbers of adults were reported in these regions, primarily south of Atar. During the second half of the month, most of the adults gradually dispersed as there were only three reports of immature swarms in the Adrar region, all still flying south. Elsewhere, a few isolated adults were reported near Atar and Tidjikja. No locusts were found in other places of Adrar and Tagant. Adult groups and a few small swarms will continue to move towards the southern regions. Scattered adults were present along the Malian border during the first half of June. Adults will probably disperse upon arrival and therefore breeding is likely to be scattered over several areas. If rains occur, hatching could commence during the first half of July.
Following two successive bumper crops, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Prices of imported wheat increased slightly, but markets are well supplied. In the 1995/96 marketing year (November/October), cereal imports for domestic use and re-export are estimated at 250 000 tons and food aid requirement at 50 000 tons. Food assistance is being distributed to Tuareg refugees in camps in the east of the country. Their number is currently estimated at 31 000 compared to 80 000 in late 1994. Disturbances in food distributions due to supply problems is thought to have contributed to an increase in malnutrition rates, notably of children. Over a period of a year, 9 000 refugees returned to Mali. Out of the 31 000 remaining, about 1 000 per month are anticipated to return. Mauritanian refugees in Senegal following civil disturbances along the Senegal river in 1989, will start to return to Mauritania. Out of the 60 000 refugees currently numbered in Senegal, a first contingent of 4 000 was expected to return to Mauritania from mid-June, but the operation has been delayed due to logistical problems.
The first rains were registered in the extreme south in mid- May where they allowed land preparation to start. Substantial rains covered most of the producing areas in early June. In mid-June, they decreased somewhat in the west, the south-west and the east but increased in the centre. Land preparation is underway. Plantings are progressing northwards following the onset of regular rains.
On 12 May, immature Desert Locust swarms were seen flying in the Tamesna, west of Agadez. Immature adults were also reported by nomads and locals in the north-east. No details were available on density nor size of the infestation. However, these reports may be the first indication of adults moving from the spring breeding areas of North-West Africa to the summer areas in the Sahel. Reports had already been received indicating that a few isolated Desert Locusts adults were present in some wadis north of Agadez during the second dekad of February. During the second half of March, nomads reported a swarm moving south of Agadez. In late April, locusts were reported again north of Agadez near Arlit and 30 km east of Agadez. Locust numbers are now expected to increase in the Tamesna and wadis west of the A�r Mountains as adults arrive from the north. These will mature and lay eggs with the onset of the rainy season. Adults present in the Bilma area are expected to move further east in the absence of favourable breeding conditions.
Following two successive above-average harvests in 1994 and 1995, the food supply situation is satisfactory at national level but a risk of food shortages remains in structurally deficit areas, notably in Diffa, Agadez and Tillabery departments. The final 1995 production figures indicate an aggregate output of cereals of 2 090 000 tons, including paddy, which is about 12 percent less than first harvest estimates. To cover the deficit up to next harvest, in January the Government launched an appeal for external assistance. The �Network for the Prevention of Food Crises in the Sahel� of the Club du Sahel (OECD) organized a meeting in late April to review the situation on the basis of recent assessments and final production figures and also launched an appeal to the donor community, estimating emergency needs at 50 000 tons of cereals. Part of this amount can be drawn from the national security stock, provided donors assistance with replenishment. Several donors confirmed food aid pledges or availability of funds for local purchases. On-going or new food for work projects are also targeted for vulnerable populations in areas at risk. For the 1995/96 marketing year (November/October), the cereal import requirement is estimated by FAO at 200 000 tons and food aid requirement at 50 000 tons. Part of the import requirement can be covered by traditional imports from neighbouring Nigeria.
Following widespread rains in the south in March, the first maize crop is developing satisfactorily. In late April and May, the rains started over the centre and the north, allowing the planting of maize in the centre and millet and sorghum in the north. They remained widespread during the first half of June. Land preparation for the planting of rice is underway in the centre. Fertilizer and pesticides delivery to farmers from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture is below normal. Heavy rains in mid-June caused flooding in Lagos and damaged infrastructure.
Following a good harvest in 1995, the food supply situation is satisfactory and markets are well supplied. The country imports substantial quantities of wheat and rice. For the 1995/96 marketing year (July/June), the cereal import requirement is estimated at about 0.9 million tons.
The first slight rains were registered in the extreme south- east in late May. They progressed in the south and the centre- east in early June. Satellite imagery showed cloud coverage over almost the entire country during the second dekad of June, indicating that some rains may have started in the north. Land preparation and first wet plantings are now well underway in the south and starting in the centre and the north.
An immature swarm of Desert Locusts reached the Senegal River Valley on 5 May at Thikite. It was reported to cover some 800 hectares, but was fragmented and of low density. It moved south-west towards Lingu�re on the following day. On the 8th, two other swarms were reported at Aere Lao and Richard Toll. Surveys were in progress, but no further information was received for the remainder of the month. Adult groups and a few small swarms are expected to persist in the north-west, primarily along the Senegal River Valley, where they will mature and lay eggs with the beginning of the rainy season. Breeding is expected to be on a small scale.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory and markets are generally well supplied. Prices of millet, sorghum and maize increased somewhat in both rural and urban markets but this is normal during the lean season. They remained generally close to 1995 level at the same period. Some assistance may be needed for the procurement of surplus coarse grains in the south and its movement to traditional deficit areas in the north. For the 1995/96 marketing year (November/October), the cereal import requirement is estimated at 700 000 tons, mostly rice and wheat, and the structural food aid requirement at 27 000 tons. As of mid- June, 49 000 tons have been pledged, of which 4 000 tons have been delivered so far. About 4 000 Mauritanian refugees were expected to return to Mauritania from mid-June, but the operation has been delayed due to logistical problems.