SENEGAL:
Overall crop prospects remain unfavourable despite abundant rains in
late August and early September which improved growing conditions following
dry spell in July/early August. Following early and above normal rains
in May and June, precipitation decreased in early July and weather became
almost completely dry during the second dekad of the month over the entire
country. Mostly dry conditions prevailed in the north and the centre-north
up to mid-August. This dry spell has severely stressed recently planted
crops and sowings have failed on large areas. Precipitation resumed in
mid-August and became widespread and well above normal in late August and
early September, allowing cumulative rainfall to be above normal in the
north-west. In the north and the centre-north, crops which had not failed
benefited from these abundant rains. In the centre and the south, maize
is heading/maturing, millet and sorghum are in the reproduction phase,
rice is being transplanted or is tillering/elongating. The government has
organised an assessment mission in the drought-affected areas to estimate
the assistance needs of the affected population. It has launched an appeal
for food aid and started to organise distributions from national stocks.
Grasshoppers infestations are reported in Bambay, Diourbel, Fatick,
Gossas and Mbour regions. Insect attacks are also reported locally.
