Rains started in mid-March over the south and became abundant in early April over the whole country. The planting of the first maize crop has started, while millet, sorghum and rice planting is about to start. Rice production is expected to increase in 1998, following the implementation of a national plan including technical assistance, inputs distribution and farm credits.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. The cereal import requirement for 1998 (January/December) is estimated at 205 000 tonnes (including re-exports), mostly wheat and rice. According to the cereal balance sheet, about 70 000 tonnes of maize can be exported to neighbouring countries. Cereal prices are increasing in the north, as a result of strong demand from Sahelian neighbouring countries which had reduced 1997 cereal output.
The rainy season started with generally above normal rains. First sporadic rains fell in the south-west and the east in late March. Effective rains started in the south-east in early April. They progressed northwards over almost the entire country in mid-April and were above normal in late April. They decreased somewhat in early May but remained above normal and reached the extreme north in late May. In early June, precipitation remained abundant and widespread over the entire country. Planting of millet and sorghum is now well underway. Crops are emerging satisfactorily in the south and the west. Land preparation has started in the extreme north.
Reflecting a below-average harvest in 1997, the overall food supply situation is tight in the areas which gathered reduced crops. Following a downward revision of 1997/98 production figures, the Government has revised the emergency food aid to 76 400 tonnes to cover consumption requirements of 800 000 people for seven months. As of late May, about 50 000 tonnes of food aid had been pledged by various donors, either from external sources or from local aid programmes. This includes 9 000 tonnes for replenishing the national security stock.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Planting of maize normally starts in July. Maize production was particularly poor both in 1996 and 1997, and this may cause problems with seed availability in some areas.
Despite two successive poor harvests, the overall food supply situation remains satisfactory as the country imports the bulk of its consumption requirement. However, at-risk rural populations, notably in the semi-arid or arid zones, may need assistance. For the 1997/98 marketing year, the cereal import requirement is estimated at 100 000 tonnes. Pledges reported so far amount to 55 000 tonnes.
The growing season has started on time with first significant rains registered in mid or late April in the Sudanian and Sahelian zones. Planting of coarse grains is underway in the south and will progress northwards following the onset of regular rains. African Migratory Locusts were reported in mid-May in Linia region, east of N'Djamena, as well as in some villages along the Logone River.
Following an above average harvest in 1997, the overall food supply situation is better than in 1996/97. However, the national early warning system (SAP) recommended provision of 5 155 tonnes of food aid to assist about 237 000 people for up to four months in areas classified as at risk of food supply difficulties in the Sahelian zone. In addition, about 5 000 tonnes are needed to cover needs in the Sudanian and Saharan zones. About 10 000 tonnes of cereals are to be purchased with some donor assistance to replenish the national security stock, which has a recommended level of 22 000 tonnes and which was exhausted at the end of the last growing season.
First rains fell during the first dekad of March over the south and became abundant over the whole country during the third dekad, allowing planting of the first maize crop which is developing satisfactorily. Planting of rice, millet and sorghum is underway.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory and markets are adequately supplied. Repatriation for the Liberian refugees is underway and should be completed by the end of the year. The cereal import requirement for 1998 (January/December), is estimated at 610 000 tonnes, mostly wheat and rice.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Planting will start in a few weeks with the onset of the rains. Seed availability problems are likely, following the 1997 below average harvest in some areas.
Due to a long dry spell in July/August 1997, the 1997 aggregate cereal output was well below the 1996 output and substantially below average. In late April, the Government launched an appeal for international assistance amounting to 9 325 tonnes of cereals.
Rains started but remained limited in mid-March, allowing the planting of the first maize crop in the south and the centre. Planting of rice, millet and sorghum is underway, following abundant rains over the whole country from mid-April.
The aggregate 1997 cereal production was below normal, estimated at 1.8 million tonnes. Millet production was notably below normal, due to limited rainfall in the north. Cereal production in the extreme north was about 25 percent lower than the average and the cereal balance for this area shows a deficit of about 33 000 tonnes of maize. Food distributions are underway for 30 000 vulnerable people in this area and should continue until the start of the next harvest.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory in the rest of the country. The 1998 cereal import requirement is estimated at 410 000 tonnes, mostly wheat and rice.
Rains started in late March in the south, and in early May in the north. Planting of rice, maize, millet and sorghum is underway. However, the large number of refugees in some of the main producing areas is causing problems, including soil degradation and deforestation.
Latest estimates put the total number of Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees in Guinea at 570 000, of whom about 380 000 are Sierra Leoneans and 195 000 are Liberians. Repatriation of Sierra Leonean refugees has stopped due to renewed fighting in northern Sierra Leone and about 170 000 new refugees have arrived in southern Guinea during the last two months. The cereal import requirement for 1998 is estimated at 400 000 tonnes.
The first significant rains reached the east and the south in mid-May, stopped in late May and resumed in early June. Land preparation for the planting of coarse grains is underway. Planting of rice in seedbeds has also started. Transplanting will start in July/August after desalination of swamp rice fields following stronger rains. Seed availability problems are likely in some areas.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory, but a military revolt has affected food supply and marketing and displaced a large number of people in the capital. The Government has requested some food and seed assistance for about 1 000 people affected by fires in Gabu and Cacheu regions. Cereal imports during the 1997/98 marketing year are estimated at 76 000 tonnes (including re-exports).
The main rice crop which was planted in late March is growing satisfactorily. With a stable security situation throughout the country, humanitarian aid can be delivered and farming activities carried out in most areas, and an improvement in the nutritional status of the population is reported. Food supply on the urban market is stable. However, food prices remain high.
Liberia remains heavily dependent on food aid. The number of refugees and displaced persons is currently estimated at 800 000, including some 56 000 new arrivals from Sierra Leone. The cereal import requirement for 1998 (January/December), is currently estimated at 240 000 tonnes, including 130 000 tonnes of food aid.
The growing season has started in the south and land preparation and first planting of millet and sorghum has started. Plantings will progress northwards following the arrival of rains.
Following an above average 1997/98 aggregate cereal output with record rice production, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Cereal surpluses were available and substantial quantities have been exported, notably to Burkina Faso and Mauritania. The national early warning system (SAP) has classified several arrondissements in the north and west of Tombouctou region and in several parts of Kayes, Mopti and S�gou regions as at risk of food supply difficulties and recommended the provision of 8 600 tonnes of cereals to assist 318 000 people for 3 months.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail, although some limited rains have been received in parts and land preparation is underway.
Following the harvesting of recession and off-season crops, the aggregate output of cereals for 1997/98 is estimated at 152 173 tonnes. This figure, which is close to the estimate by an FAO Crop Assessment Mission in October 1997, confirms that production improved from the 1996/97 poor level but remains below average.
The overall food supply situation is anticipated to be tight in the remainder of 1998, notably in the south of Aftout area. Prices of local coarse grains have increased sharply. Following substantial recent commercial imports, wheat and rice prices remain mostly stable. The government has appealed for international food assistance amounting to about 50 000 tonnes. As of late May, pledges reported amounted to 40 600 tonnes.
The first rains were registered in the south and the south- west in mid to late April allowing planting to start in several areas. By early June, they covered the western part of the country. In the east, seasonably dry conditions prevail. Plantings of millet and sorghum started in late May and are now well underway. Planting has not yet started in Agadez and Diffa departments.
Food supply is reported to be tight in several areas, especially in Tillabery and Diffa departments. Higher than normal migrations to Mali of families or men in search of work are reported from the north of Tillabery department. Markets are generally well supplied but cereal prices are high. Substantial imports have been recorded from neighbouring countries. The Government has appealed for international assistance, including food and seeds, and for replenishment of cereal banks. As of late May, contributions from international donors or from local solidarity programmes reported so far amounted to about 47 000 tonnes.
Rains started over the south in mid-March and reached the north in late April. The first maize and rice crops are developing satisfactorily in the south and the centre, while land preparation is underway in the north for the planting of millet and sorghum. Shortages of fertilizers, improved seeds and pesticides are still reported and may limit foodcrop production. A severe fuel shortage has also been reported and is affecting commercial activities.
The cereal import requirement for 1998 is estimated at 1.3 million tonnes, including 1 million tonnes of wheat and 200 000 tonnes of rice.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail generally. Sporadic rains were registered in the extreme south in mid-May but the weather remained dry countrywide in late May, compared to last year when the rainy season started in late May. In early June, the first significant rains covered the extreme south-east. Land preparation is underway in the south and planting will progress northwards with the onset of rains.
Following a reduced 1997 cereal harvest due to a long dry spell in July/August, the overall food supply situation is going to be tight in the affected areas during the lean season. In the urban areas, food supply is adequate and prices of rice are stable and even decreased in mid-May. In rural areas, supplies and prices of rice are also generally stable but prices of coarse grains are increasing, notably in the north and the centre-north. In January, the Government launched an appeal for food assistance amounting to 82 600 tonnes of cereals to cover the needs of about 2.5 million affected people.
The rainy season started in late March in the east and abundant rains have been recorded over the whole country since early May, allowing the planting of maize, millet and sorghum. Rice, which was planted in April and May, is growing satisfactorily, but the output is expected to remain below normal due to lack of seeds, tools and other agricultural inputs, and renewed insecurity which is causing population displacements in some areas. About 206 000 people have fled to neighbouring Liberia and Guinea since the beginning of the year. Rehabilitation activities are underway, following marked improvement in the security situation. Trade and economic activities have resumed in Freetown and the food supply situation is improving.
Overall, the food supply situation remains very precarious. FAO estimates Sierra Leone's cereal import requirement for 1998 at about 260 000 tonnes, including 80 000 tonnes of food aid. A UN Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for the period June-December 1998 is under preparation.
Limited rains fell in mid-March but precipitation became abundant from mid-April over the whole country. The first maize crop is growing satisfactorily while the planting of rice, millet and sorghum is underway.
Markets are well supplied with foodstuffs. As a result of above normal cereal production in 1997, substantial quantities of maize are available for export. The cereal import requirement for 1998 (January/December), is estimated at 78 000 tonnes of wheat and rice.