The season began with low and scattered rainfall in May in the agricultural parts of the country. Rains in June in the centre- south, south and east were heavy. However, the interruption in rainfall in July-August in the southwest caused wilting of the rainfed crops. There were insufficient seeds for resowing when the rains resumed in late August. These rains filled the dams and reservoirs in most of the country and even caused check dams and soil bunds to burst in the south and southeast. The good water reserves enhanced cropping in upstream areas of dams and on the lowlands. The Senegal River high-water flow has been above that of 1996 following the discharge of waters from Manantali dam which began on 27 August and lasted 45 days. Most regions received light rains in September. Rainfall in the first dekad of October was heavy but significantly lower than last year in Maghama, Timbedra, Kiffa and Ould Yeng�.
The locust situation remained calm. There were significant grasshopper attacks that required repeated resowing and even leading to the abandonment of fields in the Di�ri area. Aerial and ground treatment is under way to deal with the large number of grain-eating birds. A few isolated adult Desert Locusts were reported in the south during the summer and more recently in the north. The situation is under constant monitoring by field teams positioned throughout the country.
A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission estimated in late October aggregate 1997/98 cereal output at 153 400 tons. This is 26 percent higher than in 1996/97, and 5 percent below the average of the last five years. Substantial increases are expected for lowland and irrigated crops in several areas. In contrast, production of rainfed crops, which have suffered the most from the uneven and irregular rainfall and grasshopper attack, will remain low again this year.
The overall food supply situation is anticipated to be tight for farmers affected by poor rainfed crop production, notably in the two Hodhs, Gorgol and Guidimaka. Following substantial imports, wheat and rice prices remain stable or have even decreased. By contrast, local coarse grain prices have increased, reflecting poor harvest prospects for rainfed crops.