The rainy season is drawing to a close. Rains ceased in the north in mid-October and millet and sorghum are being harvested. The second maize crop is developing satisfactorily in the south. Crop prospects are generally favourable.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. The arrival of the recently
harvested cereals on the markets increased supplies and prices started to decrease.
Cereal imports for domestic use and re-exports during the 2001 marketing year
are estimated at 138 000 tonnes and food aid requirements at 11 000 tonnes.
The rainy season is over. Rains ceased somewhat early in late September in the north and the centre, thus reducing yield potential for coarse grains which were in the critical grain-filling/maturation stage. Rains were limited in the west in early October and almost completely ceased in mid-October. In the agro-pastoral areas, pastures are abundant while most dams and water points have been refilled. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission which visited the country in late October estimated with national services the aggregate output of cereals in 2001 at 2 796 000 tonnes. This is 22 percent above the previous year's level and 15 percent above average.
Following this good harvest, the overall food supply is expected to improve
from the precarious situation during the lean season following the 2000 reduced
harvest in several areas. The national security stock which was depleted by
food aid distributions or sales at subsidized prices, is expected to be reconstituted
to its optimal level of 35 000 tonnes. However, localized food supply difficulties
may persist in some areas affected by poor crops due to the early end of the
season.
Reduced rains in September severely affected crop development, notably in
the two islands of Santo Antao and Sao Nicolau and in the semi-arid zones of
Santiago and Fogo islands. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission in mid-October
estimated 2001 production of cereals at 18 680 tonnes against 24 341 tonnes
in 2000, a decrease of about 23 percent, but still above the average of the
last five years.
As a result of this reduced production, the overall food supply situation will
remain tight in several areas. The government has launched an appeal for international
food assistance as well as for agricultural inputs.
After generally above-average precipitation in September, rains ceased in the Sahelian zone in early October and in the Sudanian zone in late October. Pastures are abundant. Prospects for sorghum recession crops are good. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission which visited the country in mid-October estimated the aggregate output of cereals at a record level of 1 237 250 tonnes, 33 percent above the previous year's level and 15 percent above average.
As a result of this anticipated good harvest, the food supply situation will
improve, notably in the deficit areas of the Sahelian zone affected by poor
crops in 2000. Prices of cereals decreased significantly in September and October.
However, about 143 000 people have been identified as at risk of food difficulties
following flooding in areas of the Sudanian zone which caused damage to houses
and about 144 000 hectares of farm land. An influx of expellees from Lybia and
population displacement from Tibesti are reported in the north. During the lean
season, a WFP Emergency Operation provided 27 000 tonnes of food aid to 375
000 beneficiaries in eight departments of the Sahelian zone.
Precipitation was generally average in September and below-average in October, except in the extreme south. This may have affected yield potential of the millet and sorghum crops which are being harvested in the north. The second maize crop is due to be harvested in December in the south.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. In addition to the 120 000 Liberian refugees already in the west of the country, an influx of new refugees has been reported following fighting in Lofa county in Liberia.
Precipitation was average or below average from mid-September to early October but improved significantly during the second dekad of October. The rainy season ended in late October. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission visited the country in late October and estimated with national services the aggregate output of cereals (including rice) at 198 200 tonnes, against 175 900 tonnes last year, which was already a record level. This year's output is about 13 percent above last year and 49 percent above the last five-year average. Total coarse grain output increased by 15 percent over 2000 and 56 percent over the five-year average. The total harvested area under cereals is estimated at 152 800 hectares which is 14 percent above the previous year and 36 percent above the last five-year average. Major cash crops such as groundnut and sesame also performed well. Groundnut production is estimated at 149 640 tonnes, 8 percent above last year and 54 percent above the five-year average. Sesame production, estimated at 1361 tonnes, is gaining importance.
Following successive bumper harvests, the overall food supply situation is
satisfactory. Only Kantora district experienced poor germination and crop production
is expected to decline, especially for early millet and maize. Part of the population
in this district may experience food difficulties and may be food insecure,
particularly during the lean season. The situation needs to be monitored carefully.
Rains were below average in late August, generally widespread and average in September but well below average in October. Therefore, crop development is likely to have been affected and harvest prospects are mixed.
The food supply situation is tight in some areas. Heavy rains in July caused
flooding in the south and the capital, hampering marketing activities. About
10 000 Liberian and about 2 500 Sierra Leonean refugees remain in the country.
Rains were abundant countrywide in late August and remained adequate in September and October. Cumulative rainfall is generally above normal. Floods which occurred in August and September in Haute Guinée affected some 220 000 people and destroyed over 20 000 hectares of farm land. Harvest prospects are generally good, except in Nandiana prefecture following reduced precipitation in late September/early October.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory and markets are generally well supplied, except in the flooded areas and in the southeast where recurrent rebel incursions from Sierra Leone have severely affected agriculture and marketing activities. The overall nutritional situation is reported to be "quite stable" in Upper Guinea in the new camps of Boreah, Kountaya and Telikoro in the Prefectures of Albadaria and Sembakounya where refugees have been relocated from the Parrot's Beak.
The outbreak of violence in neighbouring Lofa County in Liberia has forced
many Liberians to become refugees in Guinean border areas near Macenta and N'Zerekore.
In addition, there are about 180 000 IDPs in the country, but with the improved
security many IDPs have begun to move back to their homes.
After reduced rains in mid-September, precipitation improved in late September, decreased somewhat in early October but remained well above average in mid-October. Rice is elongating while millet, sorghum and upland rice are being harvested. Crop prospects are generally favourable.
A joint FAO/CILSS assessment of the 2001 crop season estimated the aggregate
output of cereals at 164 300 tonnes, which is 3 percent lower than the 2000
level and 8 percent above average. The food supply situation along the border
with Senegal was tight due to insecurity.
Following below average rains in early September, precipitation improved in late September and early October except in the south. Rains remained abundant in mid and late October in the north. Growing conditions are generally good allowing satisfactory rice crop development. Rice is about to be harvested and prospects are generally favourable.
Food supply difficulties persist, as domestic production has not fully recovered
from several years of civil war. It is estimated that there are a total of about
70 000 Sierra Leonean refugees in Liberia, mainly in Lofa county, one of Liberia's
main rice producing areas, where recent fighting has disrupted farming and displaced
thousands of people. Food distributions are underway in IDPs camps but some
areas remain inaccessible to relief agencies, notably in Gbarpolu County, near
the Sierra Leone border.
The rainy season is over. Rains ceased somewhat early in the north and the centre, thus reducing yield potential. Cumulative rainfall has generally been normal to above normal and up from last year. Pastures are abundant. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission which visited the country in late October gave a provisional estimate of the aggregate output of cereals at around 2.86 million tonnes, 20 percent above 2000 level and well above average.
The overall food situation is satisfactory. Overall cereal prices started to
decrease significantly in October, reflecting the good cereal prospects in 2001.
The reconstitution of the National Security Stock to its optimum level of 35
000 tonnes will require the purchase of 15 000 tonnes in 2001/02.
Above-normal precipitation were received in September, but rains ceased in October. The area planted to rainfed ("dieri") and lowland ("bas-fonds") crops is estimated to be lower than in 2000 as many farmers chose not to plant rainfed highland crops or abandoned fields following short dry spells during the months of July and August. The Senegal River did not reach flood stage until early September, which is late in the season. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission which visited the country in mid-October estimated the aggregate output of cereals in 2001/02 at 161 800 tonnes. This is 9 percent below 2000/01 level and 4 percent above average. This decrease is due to lower irrigated and walo/recession crop production and to lower yields for rainfed crops. By contrast, production in low-lying areas is expected to increase by 23 percent from the 2000 level as all operational dams are over 70 percent full.
The food supply situation will remain tight in several areas, notably in the
Senegal river valley and in the Aftout. Already 79 communes in Gorgol, Brakna,
Tagant, Adrar, Trarza and Hodh El Chargui have been identified as at risk of
food shortages.
Above-normal precipitation was received in early September, but rains decreased in mid and late September, ceasing altogether in October. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission in late October gave a provisional estimate of the aggregate output of cereals at around 2.8 million tonnes. This is well above the previous year's level and above average.
Following this good harvest, the food supply situation should improve significantly.
Prices of cereals decreased significantly in September and October. Farmers
should be able to reconstitute their stocks as well as the government the national
security stock to its optimum level of 35 000 tonnes.
The rainy season is over in the north and drawing to a close in the south. Harvest prospects are mixed.
The food supply situation is tight in several areas. Up to 550 000 people are
currently displaced in the Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states, in central region,
as a result of recent clashes and attacks launched against several communities
by the army. Large numbers of displaced persons are staying in ten camps, notably
around the Benue State capital, Makurdi, where they joined others who had fled
earlier fighting in June in nearby Nasarawa State. Conflict in the region, which
is one of Nigeria's major food producing areas, is likely to undermine the country's
food security. Zaki-Biam, a rural town of 50 000 people, which bore the main
brunt of recent fighting is reputed to be the biggest yam market in Nigeria.
The rainy season is over. Following well above-average rains in early and mid-September, precipitation decreased in late September. Good rains were still registered in the south in mid-October but they ceased in late October. Following a joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission which visited the country in mid-October, national services estimated from the annual production survey the aggregate output of cereals at around 1.1 million tonnes. This is 4 percent above the 2000 level and 18 percent above average.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Markets are well supplied
and prices of millet and sorghum have decreased following the arrival of fresh
products on the market.
Following somewhat reduced precipitation in early to mid-September, rains increased in late September and remained abundant and above average during the entire month of October. Rice production is expected to be above last year's level reflecting increased plantings by returning farmers and improved conditions for distribution of inputs.
The security situation is reported to be calm. Disarmament and demobilization
activities continue in Bo district. The food supply situation remains tight.
About 400 000 IDPs and returnees are in various camps but mostly in the main
towns and in Tonkili and Port Loko districts. The improvement of the security
situation facilitated access to vulnerable populations. WFP planned to distribute
more than 50 000 tonnes of food to an estimated 544 000 people during 2001.
NGOs planned also to distribute around 37 000 tonnes in the same period. The
country continues to rely heavily on international food assistance
Following well below-average rains in August, precipitation improved in September. Rains decreased significantly in early October and ceased in late October except in the extreme south. Reflecting these erratic rains, harvest prospects are mixed.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory.