First rains started in the south in early April, allowing land preparation and planting of the first maize crop. They progressed to the north in April and were widespread and above average in early May, allowing planting and emergence of millet and sorghum crops in the north.
Following a cereal harvest in 2001 estimated at 900 000 tonnes, the overall food supply situation remains satisfactory. Cereal imports for domestic use and re-exports during the 2002 marketing year are estimated at 144 000 tonnes, including 14 000 tonnes of food aid.
The rainy season has started on time. The first significant rains were registered in early April in the south-west. They progressed northwards in May and covered almost the entire country during the last dekad. However, precipitation was globally below average. Sowing of millet and sorghum is now underway in the south, west and south-west. Elsewhere, land preparation is underway.
No pest activity is reported. Seed availability is generally adequate following the 2001 record harvest.
The final 2001 production estimates released by the statistical services indicate that 2001 aggregate production of cereals reached a record of 3.11 million tonnes, 36 percent higher than the previous year and 28 percent above average
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Markets are well supplied. However, above-normal cereal prices have been reported and localized food shortages may persist in areas which harvested poor crops due to early cession of the rains.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Planting of maize normally starts in July with the onset of the rains on the main islands.
2001 maize production (virtually the only cereal produced in the country) has been estimated at 18 680 tonnes which is 23 percent lower than the previous year but some 5 000 tonnes higher than average. In early January 2002 the country experienced unseasonable heavy rains and floods which caused damage to infrastructure and farmland.
In anticipation of a tight food supply situation in several areas, the Government has appealed for international food assistance, as well as agricultural inputs. In early June, WFP approved an emergency operation to assist some 30 000 people throughout the country. FAO has started providing seeds and small farming tools to some 14 000 families (over 80 000 people).
Cereal import requirement in 2001/02 marketing year (November/October) is forecast at 93 000 tonnes, with food aid accounting for more than 50 percent. Pledges amount to 40 000 tonnes, of which 16 800 tonnes have been delivered so far.
Above-normal first rains were registered in mid-March in the extreme south and in mid April in the south-west. They decreased significantly and were below average in May, but resumed in early June.
Following release of final production estimates by national statistical services, the aggregate 2001 cereal production is estimated at a record 1.32 million tonnes, 49 percent higher than the previous year and 24 percent above average. As a result, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory, especially in the chronically food deficit areas in the Sahelian zone which harvested poor crops in 2000. However, some 143 000 people in the Sudanian zone are at risk of food shortages as a result of floods that affected 144 000 hectares of arable land.
Import requirement of cereals in 2001/02 marketing year (November/October) is estimated at 71 000 tonnes, including 13 000 tonnes of food aid.
Following the start of rains in late February, planting of the first maize crop is underway. Abundant precipitation covered the entire country during April and May, benefiting planting and emergence of millet and sorghum crops in the north.
Following an above-average cereal harvest in 2001, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. The cereal import requirement for the 2002 marketing year is estimated at 1 025 000 tonnes, mainly rice and wheat. There are some 120 000 Liberian refugees still in the country, mainly in the west.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. The rains have not started yet and farmers are currently preparing their fields. Planting is expected to start in the weeks ahead with the onset of the rains. Following a record harvest in 2001, seed availability is adequate for cereals.
With three successive bumper crops in 1999, 2000 and 2001, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Cereal import requirement for the marketing year 2001/02 (November/October) is forecast at 124 000 tonnes.
First rains in early March permitted planting of the first maize crop. Except in the extreme south, precipitation was generally well above average until early June when floods caused by heavy rains displaced more than 2 000 people in the capital, Accra, and in the second largest central city of Kumasi. Planting of coarse grains is underway in the north.
In early February, a joint FAO/WFP crop and food assessment mission visited northern Ghana where unusually dry weather conditions had affected crop production. The mission estimated the 2001 cereal production at 1.52 million tonnes, which was below average. However the overall food supply situation is close to normal as reduced cereal production in northern regions will be covered by adequate availability of other foodcrops, anticipated commercial imports and food aid already pledged.
The mission estimated total cereal import requirements in 2002 (January/December) at 461 200 tonnes including 89 000 tonnes of food aid. Worst affected areas and vulnerable groups will require food assistance estimated at about 5 000 tonnes to compensate for their reduced harvests.
The first rains were registered in the south in March where they permitted land preparation and first plantings. However, the weather remains mostly dry in the centre and the north. The overall food supply situation is satisfactory following satisfactory harvests in 2000 and 2001. Markets are well supplied, except in the south-east where recurrent rebel incursions from Sierra Leone have severely affected agricultural and marketing activities.
The presence of a large refugee population and the persistent instability in the sub-region have exacted a heavy toll on the country. Armed clashes in and around the country have also resulted in increasing numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs). UNHCR is preparing to open a new camp for Liberian refugees in Laine, about 76 km from the border after the two other camps had become full.
Cereal import requirement for the 2002 marketing year is estimated at 330 000 tonnes.
The rains have not yet started. The weather remained mostly dry until the first dekad of June. This situation may seriously affect crop production as the growing season usually starts in late April/early May. The unseasonably dry weather has reportedly been causing many difficulties for local communities. Several wells have dried up, farm animals are dying and more than 40 percent of children under the age of five are suffering from malnutrition.
Cereal import requirement in 2001/02 (November/October) is forecast at 70 000 tonnes, including 10 000 tonnes of food aid.
First rains were registered in early March in the south, becoming widespread in late March. However, precipitation remained generally below average until early June.
Following a deterioration of the general security situation, the Government declared a state of emergency on 8 February 2002, which was extended by the parliament in mid-May for six months.
Increasing clashes between Government forces and rebels in the north, north-west and central regions have displaced over 100 000 people. It has also led to the repatriation of more than half of the 36 000 Sierra Leonean refugees in camps in Monrovia and Sinje. The farming season has been disrupted and many people are now dependent on food aid than before.
WFP is currently assisting 85 000 IDPs throughout the country.
The growing season has started in the south. The first significant rains were registered in the extreme south in April. They progressed northwards and were above normal during the first and second dekads of May. They decreased during the last dekad, but remained generally adequate in May. Land preparation is underway and first sowing of millet and sorghum has started in the south. Seed availability is adequate following the 2001 good harvest. The pest situation as of mid June was calm although isolated Desert Locusts and groups of grain-eating birds have been reported in a few places.
Following well above-average cereal harvest in 2001, estimated at 2.87 million tonnes (including paddy), the overall food situation is satisfactory. Cereal import requirement in 2001/02 (November/October) is estimated at 90 000 tonnes, including 5 000 tonnes of wheat as food aid.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Planting will start following the onset of rains in July. During the first half of May, isolated Desert Locusts were reported in a few places.
Seasonal droughts and the poor distribution of rainfall in the 2001/2002 growing season, combined with exceptionally strong rain and cold in mid-January, have created the risk of an unprecedented food crisis. Following release of final production estimates by national statistical services, the aggregate 2001 cereal production is estimated at some 122 177 tonnes, 9 percent lower than the previous year. Prices of cereals have risen considerably on most markets.
In April, WFP approved an Emergency Operation for US$ 7.5 million (16 230 tons of food) and in mid-May, issued an urgent appeal for funds to help 250 000 people threatened by serious food shortages.
First rains were registered in the south in mid-May where they permitted land preparation and first early plantings. However, the weather was mostly dry in early June. It is estimated that only 2 percent of the villages had planted as of 29 May, instead of 27 percent last year. Seed availability is generally adequate following the 2001 above average harvest. No significant pest activity has been reported.
The final official aggregate 2001 cereal production is estimated at 3.11 million tonnes, 49 percent higher than the poor crop in the previous year and about one-third more than average. Most of the increase came from millet which rose by 0.75 million tonnes to 2.4 million tonnes.
Following this good harvest, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. However, an untimely sharp rise in cereal prices on all markets across the country has been reported, which makes access to food difficult. The above-normal cereal prices are mainly due to activities of speculators and outflows to Nigeria.
Cereal import requirement in 2001/02 (November/October) is estimated at some 345 000 tonnes, almost half actual imports in the previous year.
First rains in the south in late February/early March permitted land preparation and planting of the first maize crop. Rains progressed northwards in April and precipitation was generally above average in April and May. Seasonably dry conditions prevail in the extreme north-east. Late rains in much of northern Nigeria have raised fears of likely crop failure and food shortages in the region.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Some population groups, however, remain vulnerable following communal conflicts notably in the states of Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba.
Early limited rains were registered in the extreme southeast in May allowing land preparation and first plantings to start. Elsewhere, seasonably dry conditions prevail. Seed availability is generally adequate and no significant pest activity has been reported.
Overall, the food situation is satisfactory following above average 2001 cereal crop and substantial imports late last year. The markets are well supplied.
Cereal import requirements in 2001/02 (November/October) are forecast at 850 000 tonnes, some 100 000 tonnes less than actual imports in the previous year.
Following renewed fighting between government troops and rebels in the southern Senegalese province of Casamance, at least 9 000 refugees have reportedly crossed into The Gambia in early-May.
Rains started in late April but remained generally below average. Rice production should further increase this year reflecting better security situation, increased plantings by returning refugees and farmers previously displaced, as well as comparatively improved conditions for the distribution of agricultural inputs. Cereal production in 2001 is estimated at 348 000 tonnes.
In an effort to continue helping the country, a UN Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal was launched on 26 November 2001, including an agricultural component with five projects proposed by FAO to facilitate recovery of food production and reduce dependence on food aid.
Sierra Leone’s cereal import requirement for 2002 is estimated at 225 000 tonnes including 40 000 tonnes of food aid.
First rains were received in the south and the centre in early March, allowing land preparation and planting of the first maize crop. They progressed to the north in April and permitted planting of millet and sorghum.
Following an average cereal harvest in 2001, estimated at about 0.7 million tonnes, the overall food situation is satisfactory.