Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Reflecting generally favourable growing conditions, the aggregate output of cereals in 1995 is estimated at 640 000 tons, which is less than output in 1994 but above average.
Trade with Togo and Burkina Faso is increasing, principally for cereals and tubers. Trade with Nigeria, however, has decreased following the devaluation of the Naira, though reasonable quantities of rice are still imported into Benin for re-export to Nigeria. The appearance of recently harvested crops in the market has resulted in a drop in prices. The import requirement of wheat and rice in 1996 is estimated at 255 000 tons. Food aid is still being distributed to 20 000 Togolese refugees in the country. However, their repatriation is continuing.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. An FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission estimated 1995 cereal production at 2 448 500 tons (including paddy), a fall of some 2 percent from the record level of 1994. Millet production fell by some 100 000 tons, whilst that of sorghum increased slightly. Production fell in 18 provinces, notably in Passore, Soum and Yatenga in the north, where the fall exceeded 20 percent, but increased in 12 Provinces, particularly in Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Nahouri and Sissili.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Nevertheless, food supply difficulties are likely in the provinces affected by reduced harvest, notably in the north and the extreme north, in Oudalan province where cereal prices increased sharply following reduced harvest and exports of grains to Mali. In early December, the Government launched an international appeal for emergency assistance for the populations at risk in these areas. It estimated the food aid needs at 25 000 tons of cereals, which can be purchased regionally or borrowed from the National Security Stock. Donors are urged to undertake regional purchases in response to this appeal, or as part of their on-going or future food aid programmes. No import of coarse grains is necessary. Tuareg refugees who have fled from Mali in the last five years (mainly since June 1994) are currently receiving food assistance. UNHCR and WFP estimate their total number at 39 000, of whom 33 000 are receiving food assistance in refugee camps.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. As a result of unfavourable conditions in 1995, an FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission in October estimated maize production at 9 000 tons, which was average but some three times higher than the reduced crop in 1994.
Despite this limited harvest, markets are well supplied and the overall food supply situation is satisfactory, as the country imports the bulk of its consumption requirements. The cereal import requirement in 1996 is estimated at about 100 000 tons, most of which is in the form of food aid.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Off-season crop cultivation is underway and benefiting from adequate water supply. In October 1995, an FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission estimated total cereal production at 932 700 tons (including paddy), some 21 percent lower than record production in 1994. Output of all cereals, particularly that of maize, has fallen from that in 1994.
Following two successive bumper harvests, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Markets are generally well supplied and cereal prices remain nearly stable, although they started to increase. Nevertheless, some areas are at risk of food shortage in the traditionally deficit areas of the north. The national early warning system estimated that 270 000 persons will need food assistance in 1996. The national food security reserve has been partly replenished, though it still remains below its optimal level of 25 000 tons. In December 1995, an FAO Mission visited the country to determine the ideal location of reserve stocks. It recommended that the bulk of national security stock be kept in N’Djamena and to distribute to the regions before the rainy season the quantities of food aid needed as estimated by the national early warning system. The fall in domestic crop production in 1995 has lead to a slight increase in cereal import requirement for 1995/96, which is estimated at 65 000 tons of wheat and rice. The structural food aid requirement is estimated at 7 000 tons.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Following favourable growing conditions throughout the season, the 1995 aggregate cereal production is anticipated to be close to the above- average crop in 1994. The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. In order to encourage local milling, on 1 January, the Government announced a rise of import taxes of 10 percent for wheat and 30 percent for wheat flour and the liberalization of prices of flour on the local market.
WFP and UNHCR have started implementing the planned strategy of phasing out self sufficient refugees from free food distribution. As a result, 250 000 refugees only are retained in January/February for food distribution. Only small scale spontaneous repatriation is occurring since the peace agreement in Liberia.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. An FAO Crop Assessment Mission in early November estimated total 1995 cereal production at 116 000 tons compared to 106 000 tons in 1994. The output of coarse grains recorded a significant increase, whilst paddy output decreased due to a reduction in irrigated rice production.
The food supply situation is satisfactory. The rice market is stable but prices are higher than last year, due mainly to higher international prices. The cereal import requirement for 1995/96 marketing year (November/October) is estimated at 93 000 tons and the food aid requirement at 7 000 tons.
As a result of an increase in cropped area coupled with favourable rainfall, aggregate cereal production in 1995 is estimated at 1.8 million tons, which is higher than the record output in 1993. However, ethnic conflict at the beginning of 1995 and severe flooding in the north disrupted rice, millet and sorghum production in some areas.
Following a good cereal harvest and an increase in the production of roots and tubers, the food supply situation is favourable. Food aid is being distributed to about 82 000 Togolese refugees remaining in Ghana. Some spontaneous repatriations occurred during the past months. About 14 000 Liberian refugees also receive assistance.
Reflecting favourable rainfall in 1995, the aggregate output of cereals is expected to be normal. The area planted remained unchanged, with some decline in millet and sorghum area and an increase in the area under cotton.
The food supply situation is satisfactory. The prices of local rice decreased significantly after harvest, but remained generally above the level in the previous year. In 1996, the country will continue to import wheat and rice. Following the regional phasing out strategy now implemented as in Cote d’Ivoire, some 113 000 refugees are continuing to receive food assistance during the first part of the year under general distribution while additional 100 000 could be assisted within targeted feeding programmes.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. An FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission in October 1995, estimated total 1995/96 cereal production (including paddy) at a record of 200 000 tons compared to 190 000 tons in 1994/95. Estimated at 133 000 tons, rice production increased by some 2 percent, whilst the output of coarse grains increased by some 14 percent, due to well-distributed rainfall.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Markets are well supplied and prices have decreased following harvest. Cereal imports for domestic use and re-exports in 1996 are estimated at 70 000 tons, mostly rice and the structural food aid requirement is estimated at 7 000 tons.
A recent FAO Crop Assessment Mission to Liberia found that massive population displacement has reduced production of rice to about one quarter of the pre-war level. The peace accord of August 1995 came too late to permit a major return to the land for the cropping season, but has been beneficial to both food marketing and relief food distribution. Recent reports suggest a fall in malnutrition rates but the food situation remains precarious for a sizable proportion of the population, most notably recent returnees.
Rice production in 1995 dropped by some 77 percent from the pre-civil war level even under the most optimistic scenario. Cassava production has also been hit, possibly falling by as much as 50 percent. Extensive and continuous population displacement has left large tracts of agricultural land deserted. Insecurity in settled areas outside the ECOMOG controlled zone, has made it difficult for farmers to store seed for planting, and most have depended on emergency seed distribution programmes. Insecurity has also discouraged de-weeding and crop protection activities in several of the high potential settled areas. Cassava has proved to be more resilient to short term population displacement and the consequent neglect of crops. The Mission’s estimates are highly tentative, as there has been no systematic survey of food production since 1989.
Following the Abuja peace agreement of 19 August 1995, ECOMOG, the West African peace keeping force is deployed throughout Liberia. Violent fighting has been reported in Tubmanburg, (70km east from Monrovia) at the end of December involving ECOMOG forces who are supposed to disarm various factions. However, as roads into the interior of the country are gradually opened up, the most food insecure populations will start to have access to market and relief food supplies and to outlets for their goods. There are already promising signs of a growth in commercial activity and in trade in food commodities across faction lines. However, the formal export sector is paralyzed and the country carries a heavy international debt burden. There is little chance of significant public sector imports in 1996. While private commercial imports of rice and flour are set to rise in 1996, a minimum of 163 000 tons of cereal food aid will be required. There are reports from neighbouring countries that refugees are now eager to return. As returnees will not be able to harvest rice for another 10 months and cassava for at least 5 months, a major influx will have clear implications for food aid needs. Based on an optimistic returnee rate, a maximum of 179 000 tons of food aid may be required.
In January 1996, a WFP/UNHCR assessment mission focused on the shift from relief food aid to rehabilitation and reconstruction activities during 1996. Depending on improved security conditions, the Mission recommended to encourage the resettlement of internally displaced and returning refugees with food-for-work and targeted feeding programmes being delivered through the area centres up-country.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. An FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission in late October estimated total 1995 cereal production at 2 178 000 tons, including paddy. This represents a decrease of some 16 percent, compared to the record output in 1994/95 and is attributed to a reduction in cultivated area as well as lower yields. Nevertheless, the cereal production for 1995 remains slightly above average.
Following two successive harvests which were favourable, farm stocks have generally been well replenished and markets are well supplied with cereals. Some surplus of coarse grains may be available in the south and can be mobilized to cover the needs of structurally deficit areas in the north. The national early warning system indicates that three arrondissements of Bourem circle in Gao region (Bamba, Bourem and Téméra) are facing food shortages and require food aid distributions, estimated at a total of 4 000 tons of cereals. In addition, several other arrondissements of Bandiagara and Djenne circles in Mopti region and the arrondissements of Douékiré in Tombouctou region, N’Tillit in Gao region and Bouressa in Kidal region are at risk of food shortages. Elsewhere, the food supply situation is reported to be satisfactory or, if production decreased, other sources of income are available. Assistance will also be necessary for the Tuaregs who have started to return from Mauritania. The cereal import requirement for the 1995/96 marketing year (November/October) is estimated at 75 000 tons and the food aid requirement at 25 000 tons.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Recession crops are developing satisfactorily and prospects are promising. An FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission in late October estimated total cereal production at 192 600 tons (including paddy) which is slightly below the record output of 1994. Desert Locust activity decreased during late December and early January. Control operations were limited to 1 600 hectares of hoppers and young adult groups in Inchiri and Adrar from 21 December to 10 January. However, there were new reports of a few solitary adults in the north near Zerouate, Bir Mogreim and in the El Hank region in early January where conditions were favourable for breeding. A few small swarms also appeared in the Tiris Semmour in a limited area south of Zouerate, but most of them were loose and could not be treated. Control operations covered about 2 000 hectares and extensive surveys continued. As a result, further migration towards north-west Africa may be on a small scale. In northern Mauritania, a very small maturing swarm was treated in early February covering 50 hectares near Zouerate, and only solitary hoppers and adults were reported from a few locations in Tiris Zemmour. A few infestations of Desert locust were persisting in the north where 3 000 hectares of swarms and bans were treated during the first three weeks of January.
Following two successive bumper crops, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. In the 1995/96 marketing year (November/October), cereal imports for domestic use and re-export are estimated at 250 000 tons and food aid requirement at 50 000 tons. Food assistance is being distributed to Tuareg refugees in the camps in the east of the country. Their number is currently estimated at 38 000 compared to 80 000 in late 1994.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. An FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission in late October estimated 1995 aggregate cereal production at 2.385 million tons (including paddy), which is close to 1994 production and above average. Production of coarse grains decreased while that of rice increased significantly.
A military coup on 28 January has led to the suspension of cooperation aid by several donors. In mid-January, the Government made an international appeal for food aid assistance, estimating the needs at some 129 000 tons of cereals and 10 000 tons of feed supplements. Following two successive above-average harvests in 1994 and 1995, the food supply situation is satisfactory at national level. Nevertheless, some populations remain at risk of food shortages in the structurally deficit areas, notably in Diffa, Agadez and Tillabery departments. Significantly higher livestock prices than the previous year have resulted in good terms of trade for pastoralists. For the 1995/96 marketing year (November/October), the cereal import requirement is estimated by FAO at 185 000 tons and the food aid requirement at 15 000 tons. Part of this deficit will be covered by traditional imports from neighbouring Nigeria. Localized surpluses of coarse grains are also available for ongoing food aid programmes.
As a result of high farmgate prices and favourable weather conditions, and an increase in area planted, aggregate cereal production in 1995 is estimated at about 15 million tons, which is slightly above average. This was achieved despite a government ban on fertilizers imports.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Prices started to decrease in September, following the government’s monetary policy to control inflation. This encourages cereal and fertilizer exports from Nigeria to surrounding countries. The National Council on Agriculture adopted proposals to embark on promoting production of rice and wheat under irrigation during the 1995/96 dry season.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Recession crops are growing satisfactorily along the Senegal river. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission in mid-October estimated aggregate cereal production at 1 109 000 tons, including paddy, which is 17 percent above 1994 level. Total area planted was 4 percent lower than in 1994 though yields were significantly higher.
The food supply situation is satisfactory and urban markets are well supplied. Prices of millet, sorghum and maize remain mostly stable in rural markets. Prices are also stable in urban markets except for souna millet which increased slightly in St. Louis and Kolda markets. Some assistance may be needed for the procurement of surplus coarse grains in the south and its movement to traditional deficit areas in the north. For the 1995/96 marketing year (November/October), the cereal import requirement is estimated at 695 000 tons, mostly rice and wheat, and the structural food aid requirement at 27 000 tons.
Harvesting of the paddy crop, which accounts for some 90 percent of total cereal production, is complete. As a result of disrupted farming activities and population displacement, output is anticipated to be similar to the previous year, which was about 60 percent of pre-war production.
The security situation remains tight in the south-east of the country, where villages in the Bo and Moyamba districts have suffered devastation. However, the RUF announced that it is ready for peace talks without pre-conditions and a one week cease-fire took place, beginning 23 January. It is currently estimated that about 730 000 people are affected in the country. About 250 000 are in Bo, which is now the second largest town of the country. The danger of ambush on roads between the south-east and Monrovia have severely disrupted commercial trade and food aid deliveries.
In January 1996, a joint WFP/UNHCR assessment mission recommended a planning figure of 690 000 internally displaced and refugees for general distribution in 1996, pending the verification and re-registration of beneficiairies. An additional 100 000 displaced could be assisted within vulnerable group and institutional feed programmes.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Reflecting abundant rainfall during the growing season, the aggregate output of cereals in 1995 is estimated at 530 000 tons, which is higher than average though lower than the record output in 1993. This is due to irregular rains in some areas in the south. Flooding in central parts of the country in September also disrupted maize and sorghum production.
Markets are well supplied and the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Consumer price inflation seems set to fall to 8 percent in 1996, as the effects of the CFA franc devaluation in January 1994 are finally absorbed.