NIGER:

The growing season has started in the south. Following first rains in the extreme south-west in early April, the weather remained mostly dry until the third dekad of May, when rains progressed northwards in the south-west, allowing land preparation and first plantings to start. It is estimated that about 9 percent of the villages had finished their plantings as of 20 May, compared to only 2 percent last year and 28 percent in 2001.

Seed availability is generally adequate following the 2002 record harvest. No significant pest activity has been reported. Subsidized sales of 12 000 tonnes of cereals and 2 000 tonnes of animal feeds helped improved access to food for poor households as well as livestock condition affected by limited availability of pastures.

Satellite Images (Cold Cloud Duration for the last three dekads)

Legend

Page with graphics of the evolution of Cold Cloud Duration average values over various zones of the country and compared to 1989-1995 average values.