Rains remained widespread in July and August over the whole country. The first maize crop and rice are being harvested. Satellite vegetation images show above normal vegetation in the south and north, but slightly below average in the centre, around Parakou. Maize and millet production could be reduced in this area. Crop prospects are generally better than last year due to favourable growing conditions in most parts of the country.
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.
Above-normal rainfall was registered in early and mid-August. Rains decreased somewhat during the third dekad of August, notably in the north, but soil moisture reserves are generally abundant. Precipitation increased in the north in early September, compensating for the decreased rains in the previous dekad. Crops are developing satisfactorily. Short cycle and early planted varieties, notably of maize, are being harvested. Pastures are adequate countrywide. Grasshopper infestations are reported in the north and east. Cantharids are also present on maize and millet in the Sahel and Mouhoun zones. Worm infestations have been reported in several areas of the north and the east. Treatments have been undertaken.
Reflecting a below-average harvest in 1997, the overall food supply situation remained tight during the lean season in the areas which gathered reduced crops. About 75 percent of the emergency food aid requirement estimated by the Government at 76 400 tonnes to cover consumption requirements of 800 000 people for seven months has been covered. Substantial local purchases from surplus regions have been financed by various donors, including from local resources. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled in mid- October to estimate 1998 crop production.
The arrival of the rains in late July was followed by dry weather during the first dekad of August, leading to crop failure in some areas. During the second dekad, widespread and abundant rains were registered on the islands of Santo Antao, Fogo and Brava, but were limited on Santiago island. During the third dekad, rains were registered on all the islands, including Santiago. the maize crop is emerging/tillering. Grasshopper infestations are reported on Brava, Fogo, Maio and Santiago islands and treatments have been undertaken in some locations.
Despite two successive poor harvests in 1995 and 1996, the overall food supply situation remains satisfactory as the country imports the bulk of its consumption requirement, except for some at-risk rural populations, particularly in the semi-arid or arid zones. For the 1997/98 marketing year (November/October), the cereal import requirement is estimated at 95 000 tonnes and the food aid requirement at 65 000 tonnes.
A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled in early November to estimate 1998 crop production.
Widespread and above-normal rainfall since early July benefited crop development in most producing areas. Precipitation decreased somewhat in late August in the south but improved in early September. By contrast, torrential rains were registered between 21 and 24 August in Moyen Chari and Logone regions, causing flooding in some areas. Crops are developing satisfactorily.
Pastures are regenerating well. Grasshoppers are reported on millet and sorghum in several regions. Isolated African Migratory Locusts are present in Massakory area. Low numbers of solitary Desert Locust adults may be present in a few places in Biltine and Ennedi. Small scale breeding is likely to occur in areas of recent rainfall.
The national early warning system (SAP) has recommended provision of 5 155 tonnes of food aid for about 237 000 people for up to four months during the learn season in areas classified as at-risk of food insecurity in the Sahelian zone. In addition, about 5 000 tonnes were needed to cover needs in the Sudanian and Saharan zones. Cereals have also been purchased to replenish the national security stock. The Government has launched an appeal for assistance for 40 tonnes of recession sorghum seeds for off-season production. Total imported food aid pledges reported so far amount to 35 000 tonnes, of which 15 000 tonnes have been delivered.
A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled in mid- October to estimate 1998 crop production.
Cumulative rainfall since the beginning of the season has been normal to below normal but rains remained widespread and harvest prospects for 1998 are about normal. Satellite vegetation images show above-average vegetation over the whole country. However, reduced rainfall in June and July could have reduced crop production in the south where the main maize and rice crops are currently being harvested.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory and markets are adequately supplied. The cereal import requirement for 1998 (January/December), is estimated at 620 000 tonnes, mostly wheat and rice.
Following below-normal rains in July, precipitation was generally adequate in August. Due to a long dry spell in July/August last year, the 1997 aggregate cereal output was well below the 1996 output and substantially below average. In late April 1998, the Government launched an appeal for international assistance amounting to 9 325 tonnes of cereals.
A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled in mid- October to estimate 1998 crop production.
Below-average rains were recorded in July and August in the centre, and could reduce the output of the main maize and rice crops which were then at the maturing stage and are now being harvested. Limited and erratic rainfall in June over the Upper regions could also have affected millet and sorghum production in these areas. By contrast, good growing conditions prevailed in the south where maize production is expected to be above average.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Food distributions are underway for 30 000 vulnerable people in the extreme north following reduced crops output in 1997. The 1998 cereal import requirement is estimated at 440 000 tonnes, mostly wheat and rice.
Following widespread and abundant rainfall, the main cereal crops are maturing and overall prospects for the 1998 harvest are favourable. However, satellite images show below-normal vegetation in Fouta Djallon and Bok� areas where reduced rains in July could have affected rice and maize production.
Latest estimates put the total number of Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees in Guinea at 614 000, of whom about 414 000 are Sierra Leoneans and 200 000 Liberians. Heavy rains in late August severely disrupted the delivery of humanitarian assistance. The cereal import requirement for 1998 is estimated at 410 000 tonnes, mostly wheat and rice.
Following the ceasefire agreement signed on July 26 and the start of peace talks in late August, most of the 350 000 people who fled Bissau and other towns should be able to return to their homes.
Satellite imagery indicates that abundant and widespread rains covered the entire country in August and early September. Hopefully, the ceasefire in late July permitted farmers to undertake replanting of rice, but availability of seeds and delays in the preparation of rice seedbeds are likely to have severely limited planted areas.
The overall food supply situation has deteriorated following the fighting which displaced a large number of people and disrupted marketing activities. The situation is expected to remain tight in 1998/99. In late August, an emergency assistance operation was approved by FAO and WFP for a total of 37 000 tonnes of relief food to address for six months the needs of 350 000 internally displaced persons who are located mainly around Bafeta.
Abundant rainfall during the whole growing season resulted in good development of the rice crop, which is about to be harvested. But severe seed shortages were reported in many rural areas and will have limited production. The 1998 cereal output is expected to be close to last year's level.
Food supply in the urban market is stable but prices remain very high and only an extremely low proportion of the population has sufficient income to buy enough rice, the staple food. Food assistance is being provided throughout almost the entire country and an improvement in the nutritional status of the population is reported. Food assistance is also provided to about 1 717 000 IDPs and refugees 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.
Precipitation remained generally widespread and abundant in July and August, but decreased somewhat in the centre-east in late August; however, it improved in early September. Crops are developing satisfactorily. Pastures are generally adequate. There were unconfirmed reports from nomads of Desert Locust adults in mid-August in the Adrar des Iforas south of Kidal between Wadi Alkit and Wadi Edjerer.
Following an above-average 1997 aggregate cereal output with record rice production, the overall food supply situation remains satisfactory. Cereal surpluses were available and substantial quantities have been exported, notably to Burkina Faso and Mauritania. The national early warning system (SAP) had 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.
A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled in late October to estimate 1998 crop production.
Since the beginning of the rainy season in mid-July, precipitation remained widespread and regular during August and September. Crops are generally growing satisfactorily. Early short cycle millet and sorghum crops (60 - 70 days) are heading in several areas of the south, while long cycle varieties (120-150 days) are tillering in low lying areas. Pastures are in good condition. Some grasshoppers have been reported in some areas, notably in the pastures. Desert Locust activity remains calm.
Following the harvesting of recession and off-season crops, the final aggregate output of cereals for 1997/98 is estimated at 152 200 tonnes, which is better than in 1996/97 but below average. The overall food supply situation is anticipated to be tight in the remainder of 1998, notably in the south of Aftout area. However, following substantial recent commercial imports, wheat and rice prices remain stable. The Government has appealed for international food assistance amounting to about 50 000 tonnes. Pledges reported so far amount to 31 000 tonnes of which 15 000 tonnes have been delivered.
A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled in late October to estimate 1998 crop production.
Rains were generally regular and widespread in late July and August. They decreased during the last dekad of August but remained widespread in early September. Soil moisture reserves are generally adequate and crop water needs are well covered. In early August and again in early September torrential rains in the southwest and in Niamey area caused several deaths, substantial damage to infrastructure and flooding in crop zones. Pastures are abundant reflecting good rains in the pastoralist zones. Grain-eating birds and grasshopper and other insect infestations are reported in several departments and treatments have been undertaken. Low numbers of Desert Locust adults are likely to be present and breeding in Tamesna where rains have recently fallen.
Food supply was tight during the lean season in several areas, especially in Tillabery and Diffa departments. 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.
A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled in mid- October to estimate 1998 crop production.
Satellite imagery show below-normal vegetation in the north in Sokoto, Katsina, Kano, Bauchi and Borno provinces, due to low rainfall during the start of the growing season. This could reduce the 1998 wheat and sorghum harvest in these areas. Overall, growing conditions have been favourable in the centre and south, and the output of the main maize and rice crops, which are currently being harvested, should be close to last year's level. Shortages of fertilisers, improved seeds and pesticides are expected to have again negatively affected maize and rice production.
Food supply is still constrained by high levels of post- harvest losses and high distribution costs but is satisfactory. The cereal import requirement for 1998 is estimated at 1 300 000 tonnes, including 1 million tonnes of wheat and 200 000 tonnes of rice.
The rainy season started in the extreme south-east in early June, with the rains progressing slowly to the centre and the north, which remained dry up to mid-July. Planting of coarse grains started with the arrival of the rains in late July in the north, which was later than last year but normal. In August, regular rains were recorded in the centre and the north, except in the southern part of St Louis region. Heavy rains in Tambacounda region caused flooding in some areas. In the south, (Kolda region), precipitation remained irregular and poorly distributed. Crop water needs are covered everywhere and crops are generally developing satisfactorily. Maize is flowering and rice is tillering/elongating. Due to the late start of the rains in the centre and centre-north and seed supply difficulties, planted areas are likely to be reduced. The final outcome will depend heavily on the continuation of the rains up to mid-October in the centre and the north.
Pastures are regenerating following regular rains in August. Grasshopper infestations have been reported in Kaffrine department but treatments prevented their spread. Grain eating birds are also reported in the Senegal River region. No Desert Locust activity is reported.
Following the reduced 1997 cereal harvest due to a long dry spell in July/August 1997, the overall food supply situation was tight during the lean season in the affected areas. In the urban areas, food supply is adequate and prices of rice are stable, reflecting substantial commercial imports by traders. In rural areas, supplies and prices of rice are also generally stable, prices of coarse grains started to decrease following substantial increases during the lean season. In July, the Government allocated a total of about 7 billion CFA Francs to buy food locally and distribute it to vulnerable populations.
A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled in late October to estimate 1998 crop production.
Cereal production in 1998 is expected to be lower than in 1997. The planted area is estimated to be substantially lower than last year, due to continuing insecurity in the rural areas and population displacements which occurred during the growing season. An acute shortage of rice seed in the country has further limited crop production. Flooding occurred in Kambia and Mambolo, destroying rice fields following heavy rainfall in mid-August.
There are currently an estimated 100 000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), plus some 160 000 refugees in neighbouring Guinea. The security situation has deteriorated significantly since the beginning of the year, especially in the rural areas not yet under the control of ECOMOG forces.
The price of rice has increased sharply over the last few months, partly because of the government's decision not to provide any foreign exchange to commercial rice importers. Pockets of acute food shortage are located in the northeastern and central parts of the country. Due to several years of civil strife and insecurity in the country, the overall food supply situation remains very precarious and large-scale assistance is needed. Sierra Leone's cereal import requirement for 1998 is estimated at about 260 000 tonnes, including 80 000 tonnes of food aid.
The harvest of the main maize and rice crops is underway. The late start of the growing season and limited rainfall during the two last dekads of May and the first dekad of June might have reduced crop output in the south. In the centre and the north, maize, millet and sorghum crops benefited from adequate growing conditions and the output is expected to be normal to above normal.
The food supply situation is satisfactory. Food prices are decreasing following the start of the harvesting period. The cereal import requirement for 1998 (January/December), is estimated at 90 000 tonnes of wheat and rice.