Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Planting of the first maize crop should start in March in the south following the onset of the rains. At the end of last rainy season, in September/October, floods were reported in many villages and thousands of people were displaced. Despite armyworms infestations in Atakora and Borgou departments, harvest prospects are generally favourable. The aggregate output of cereals (rice in paddy equivalent) in 1999 is estimated at 925 000 tonnes, which is well above average.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. The 1999 aggregate cereal production has been estimated by a joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission last October at 2 448 000 tonnes (with rice in paddy equivalent), which is 8 percent below the 1998 record but 2 percent above the last five years average. Millet and sorghum production decreased while maize and fonio production increased.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Markets are well supplied and prices of local millet and sorghum are lower than previous years. However, some populations may be vulnerable following flooding or successive reduced harvests. Emergency food assistance (340 tonnes of assorted food purchased locally) is being distributed in the provinces of Boulkemdeto, Kouritenga, Passore, Poni, and Yatenga to 12 000 Burkinabe who fled since early November the area of Tebou in south-west C�te d�Ivoire following land tenure disputes in cocoa plantations. Around 4 000 have been identified as particularly vulnerable. Some of the returnees have started to return to C�te d�Ivoire.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. An FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission in October estimated 1999 cereal production at a record 25 700 tonnes which is about 5 times higher than in 1998 and 1997 and the last five-year average.
Following this record crop, the overall food supply situation has improved in rural areas affected by several successive poor crops. Following regular cereal imports, markets are well supplied and prices are stable. 1999 domestic production covers only about a quarter of consumption requirement, however, stocks and planned imports or food aid for the year 2000 are adequate to cover needs.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Off-season crops are growing satisfactorily and prospects are good for berb�r� (recessional sorghum) in Chari Baguirmi, Mayo Kebbi and Salamat Prefectures as well as for maize and wheat crops in the Lake Chad polders. Reflecting adequate growing conditions, the aggregate 1999 cereal production has been estimated by a joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission at 1 153 300 tonnes (rice in paddy equivalent), which is 15 percent below the 1998 record but 9 percent above the five- year average.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Prices of cereals remain stable. Farmers could reconstitute stocks for the second consecutive year or sell cereals to compensate for low cotton prices and poor groundnut production. Some areas were also flooded in Moyen Chari and Logone Oriental prefectures.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Planting of the first maize crop will start in March following the onset of the rains in the south. Production of rice in 1999 increased due to good rains and area expansion. The aggregate output of cereals in 1999 is estimated at almost 1.7 million tonnes (rice in paddy equivalent), which is close to 1998 level.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. About 100 000 Liberian refugees and 1 500 Sierra Leoneans are present in the west. The number of Liberian refugees is decreasing due to repatriation.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Reflecting satisfactory growing conditions, the aggregate 1999 cereal production has been estimated by a joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission at 137 150 tonnes (rice in paddy equivalent), which is 13 percent above 1998 and 29 percent above the five-year average.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Markets are well supplied. However, some areas have been affected by substantial flooding, especially in the west.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Severe floods in September 1999 devastated three areas in the Northern Regions as major rivers burst banks. Some 332 000 people have been made homeless by the floods which have destroyed farmlands, crops and livestock and caused an outbreak of cholera in some villages. The aggregate output of cereals in 1999 is estimated at 1 686 000 tonnes (rice in paddy equivalent) which is slightly below 1998 and the average.
The food supply situation is tight for the populations affected by flooding. WFP is providing 900 tonnes of maize and 83 tonnes of beans to some 50 000 vulnerable people, including women, children and the elderly in Northern Region (30 000), Upper East Region (12 000) and Upper West Region (8 000). Water and sanitation remains a problem as small dams and wells were destroyed, particularly in the Upper East Region. Many water sources have been contaminated. About 10 000 Liberian refugees remain in the country. Out of these, only 2 000 are receiving food rations.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Reflecting favourable growing conditions, the output of cereals in 1999 is estimated at a record of 1.04 million tonnes (rice in paddy equivalent). Markets are well supplies both in urban and rural areas. Surpluses are available in the Guin�e Maritime and Guin�e Foresti�re regions.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory except for displaced persons and refugees. Some 488 000 refugees remain in the country (120 000 from Liberia and 366 000 from Sierra Leone). They are located mainly in Gueckadou (360 000), Forecariah (60 000) and N'zerekore (60 000). They are receiving food assistance and are considered at moderate nutritional risk.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission estimated 1999 cereal production at 138 700 tonnes (rice in paddy equivalent), which is 6 percent above 1998, but below the 1997/98 pre-crisis level and below average. Production of coarse grains increased, while that of rice decreased due to flooding and pest attacks.
Following recent presidential elections, the political situation should remain stable and the overall food supply situation has improved. However, some population groups are still facing food supply difficulties, notably in urban areas.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Reflecting favourable growing conditions and an improved security situation, 1999 cereal production is expected to be similar to or above the previous year, except in the north where fighting broke out in Lofa County during the growing season. Agricultural production increased in Bong, Bomi, Montserrado and Nimba counties, but not in Maryland, Sinoe and Grand Kru where poor roads have made access to farms difficult. With the exception of Lofa County, relative prevailing peace has exerted a positive influence on farming activities. The cultivated area should be substantially higher than in 1998, with rice production expected to be around 80 percent of pre-war level and 100 percent for cassava. Although a shortage of basic agricultural inputs was a limiting factor for farmers, it was minimized by substantial distribution of seeds and tools and improved technical assistance to resettling farm families. In Lofa County, most of the estimated 25 000 displaced people are farmers who have not been able to harvest their crops. Several thousands have been displaced from Voinjama and Kolahum camps in upper Lofa to Tarvey and Sinje in lower Lofa.
The overall food situation has improved significantly in 1999. Food supplies in urban markets are relatively stable, and in general, prices are relatively lower than in 1998. Food supply in rural areas continues to be tight. Rehabilitation programs allow resettlement and reintegration of refugees and internally displaced persons through provision of repatriation packages. However, humanitarian programmes for Liberian returnees and Sierra Leonean refugees were disrupted by insecurity and looting in Lofa county, where the nutritional and health conditions of displaced people have deteriorated. About 90 000 refugees from Sierra Leone remain in Liberia. The country continues to rely heavily on food aid.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Harvesting of rice is underway in the Niger River areas where fish catches are also very good (almost double compared to previous year). Prospects for off-season irrigated or recession crops are particularly favourable. Reflecting adequate growing conditions, the aggregate 1999 cereal production was estimated by a joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission last October at 2 951 700 tonnes (rice in paddy equivalent). This exceeds the previous 1998 record by 16 percent and is 28 percent above the five-year average. Production of rice increased by 13 percent and 41 percent respectively compared to 1998 and the average for the last five years, while coarse grains production increased by 17 percent and 23 percent respectively. Desert Locusts have been reported in the Timetrine area in December. About 1 700 hectares were treated out of 2 575 hectares infested. Locusts escaping control will concentrate in the remaining green areas of Adrar or move further north into southern Algeria.
Following two successive bumper crops, the overall food situation is satisfactory. Markets are well supplied and cereal prices decreased strongly following harvest and are much lower than the previous years. The national early warning system (SAP) estimated that only 3 arrondissements out of the 173 it monitors in the centre and the north (namely Baye, Diankabou and Ouenkoro), are moderately at risk of food shortages following floods which destroyed rice crops. Therefore, no food aid distributions or sales are required.
Prospects for off-season and recession crops are excellent (anticipated to be the best in 30-40 years in many areas). Abundant precipitation during the rainy season filled dams and much larger areas can be sown with recession (walo) or �bas-fonds� crops. Pest attacks are also limited. However, the high level reached by the S�n�gal river caused substantial flooding in Brakna, Gorgol and Trarza, in the S�n�gal river basin and reduced irrigated rice production.
A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission in October estimated aggregate cereal production in 1999/2000 at 250 900 tonnes (with rice in paddy equivalent) which is 28 percent above the 1998/99 production and well above average. Desert Locusts have been reported in Dakhlet Nouadhibou, in northern Trarza and Tiris Zemmour. Breeding of sparse populations will continue in the extreme north-west but the development will be slowed down by low temperatures.
The food situation improved in rural areas following a good harvest, except in the flooded areas. Food distributions are underway for the affected populations. Markets are well supplied and prices of cereals declined substantially following harvest. By contrast, prices of imported food rose in December in Nouakchott.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Prospects for off-season irrigated crops are favourable. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission estimated the 1999 cereal production at 2 832 600 tonnes (rice in paddy equivalent) which is about 5 percent below previous year's record of 2.98 million tonnes but 23 percent above average. Production of rice increased by almost 25 percent while that of coarse grains decreased. Desert Locusts have been reported in south-eastern A�r in late December. They are expected to concentrate in the remaining green patches of vegetation of Tamesna and along the wadis and in the cultivated areas in the A�r Mountains.
The overall food supply situation remains satisfactory. Markets are well supplied and prices of cereals are low. However, they surprisingly started to increase in December. The National Early Warning System estimated that no emergency assistance is needed. However, some areas in the arrondissements of Bilma, Diffa and Guidan Roundji may be somewhat vulnerable. As of late 1999, the national security stock has been reconstituted at a level of 12 277 tonnes of millet and 2 132 tonnes of sorghum.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Planting of the first maize crop is expected to start in March in the south.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. However, due to heavy rain, three hydroelectric dams released water in the Kaduna, Benue and Niger rivers in early October, causing flooding of villages located along the river banks and population displacements. The Nigerian Government estimates that about 300 000 people have been affected by the flooding, and that several thousand hectares have been flooded in 5 States (Sokoto, Adamwara, Borno, Kwara and mostly Niger State). Most displaced people have lost homes and most of their crop fields, and have temporarily settled on higher ground. About 6 000 hectares of sugar cane plantation, expected to produce about 25 000 tonnes of sugar, have been flooded in central region. The south-eastern Bayelsa State and five districts in the Niger Delta (in the municipalities of Patani, Oshimili South, Ndokwa East, Burutu and Bomadi) have also been affected by floods. Rising waters in Lake Chad have also left an estimated 25 000 people homeless in northern Nigeria. The government has approved in late 1999 the purchase of 55 000 tonnes of local grains as part of the country's strategic food reserve.
The government decided on 11 February to remove import duties and value-added tax on all agricultural inputs, including fertilizer. The government would no longer be involved in the importation and distribution of fertilizer.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Prospects for off-season irrigated or recession crops are favourable as large areas have been flooded in the S�n�gal River valley. Reflecting adequate growing conditions, aggregate 1999 cereal production has been estimated by a joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission in October at about 962 000 tonnes (rice in paddy equivalent), which is 7 percent above the five-year average. With recession and off-season crops estimated at about 47 000 tonnes, the aggregate cereal production amounts to 1 009 100 tonnes (rice in paddy equivalent).
The overall food situation is satisfactory. Following substantial imports of rice in late 1999, markets are well supplied and the price of rice is stable. Import taxes were reduced from 15.7 percent to 12.2 percent in early 2000. Prices of local cereals are low. However, in the flooded areas in Diourbel, Kaolack, Fatick regions and in the S�n�gal river valley (Dagana, Podor, Matam, Bakel), localized food supply difficulties are likely.
An FAO Crop Assessment Mission visited the South West, Southern and part of Eastern regions in December 1999. The other northern or eastern regions were not accessible due to security constraints. The Mission found that the agricultural sector has been extensively disrupted by civil disturbances throughout the country, even including the Southern region where relative peace now prevails. Over the years, farmers have lost all their productive resources including seeds, implements and other capital assets. There has been large- scale destruction of infrastructure and rural institutions. As most rural farm families were displaced, availability of labour for planting and harvesting is a major constraint. Also, farmers� capacity to retain stocks is low due to financial constraints and the fear of looting by rebels. Practically all the farmers are dependent on Government and NGOs for the supply of seeds, and thus planted areas are highly determined by the capacity of these agencies to assist them. Due to shortages of seeds and other inputs, average rice area per farm has declined from about 0.80 hectare normally to about 0.60 hectare in the current year. Thus, the shortage of tools, fertilizers and labour adversely affected food production in 1999.
The Mission estimated rice area in 1999 at about 225 000 hectares, about 21 percent below the 1998 estimate of 285 000 hectares. Despite very good rainfall, delayed transplanting and shortages of inputs resulted in a decline in yields of about 4 percent from the previous year. Thus, production of paddy is estimated as 248 220 tonnes for 1999, about 24.4 percent below the 1998 estimate of 328 310 tonnes. 1999 paddy production is around 45 percent of the pre-war (1990) production and just about 60 percent of 1997 production when the security situation improved in many parts of the country. In the South-West region, where the security situation has improved, production has increased slightly over the previous year. However, in the North, North-West and part of Eastern region, where insecurity was high and remained inaccessible to most of the relief agencies, both area and yield decreased from the previous year.
Total cereal supply in 2000, including rice in milled form, is estimated at 181 000 tonnes against a utilization requirement of 510 000 tonnes, resulting in an import requirement of 329 000 tonnes for 2000. This compares with 1999 estimated imports of 290 000 tonnes, an increase of 13 percent. Over the war years, there has been a steady substitution of roots and tubers for cereals, and this largely explains the estimated small increase in cereal imports between the two years.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Land preparation and planting of the first maize crop is about to start in the south. Reflecting widespread and above-normal rains during the growing season, the aggregate output of cereals in 1999 is estimated at a record 748 000 tonnes (rice in paddy equivalent) which is 27 percent above 1998 level. This good result is mainly due to a strong increase of maize production, notably in Savanes, Plateaux and Kara regions where it increased by respectively 64 percent, 61 percent and 42 percent. Production of tubers and beans also increased by respectively 5 percent and 6 percent.
Following this record crop, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. However, floods have been reported in the regions of Kara (in the north), Plateaux (in the west), Maritime (in the south) and Savanes (in the extreme north). The worst affected regions is Savanes where at least 1 000 hectares of arable land have been inundated, isolating villages and affecting an estimated 42 000 people
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