SAHEL WEATHER AND CROP SITUATION 1997

Global Information and Early Warning System on food and agriculture

Report N^o2 - 10 July 1997

THE RAINY SEASON IS NOW WELL ESTABLISHED IN MOST COUNTRIES OF THE SAHEL

SUMMARY
SITUATION BY COUNTRY
SITUATION IN THE COASTAL COUNTRIES ALONG THE GULF OF GUINEA
SITUATION MAP AS OF 10 JUNE 1997
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
SOME DEFINITIONS

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SUMMARY

Rains are generally regular and widespread over most producing areas of the Sahel. They started in late March/early April in Burkina Faso where they became abundant and widespread in late May and early June. The rainy season started in April in the extreme south of Chad, Mali and Niger, then rains progressed northwards in the sahelian zone in May and June. First significant rains reached the east of Guinea Bissau and the south-east of Senegal in early May and eastern The Gambia in late May. They became widespread over Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia and most parts of Senegal and reached southern Mauritania in early June. Seasonably dry conditions prevail in Cape Verde. The last Meteosat satellite image for the first 9 days of July indicates that cloud coverage remained present and widespread over most parts of the countries except in central and northern Senegal and northern Burkina Faso. Widespread rains should have been received in the main producing areas of Mali and Niger, although more limited than in late June. Precipitation was quite abundant over Chad and south-western Mali.

Land preparation and planting are progressing following the onset of the rains. Crops are generally emerging satisfactorily except in some areas of the sahelian zone of Chad and possibly central Senegal were replantings will be necessary.

Grasshoppers are reported in Chad, Mauritania and Senegal; caterpillars are present in localised areas of Senegal. Isolated Desert Locust breeding may occur in parts of the Sahel, primarily in southern Mauritania and perhaps in northern Mali and Niger as the seasonal rains commence in the sahelian zone.

SITUATION BY COUNTRY

BURKINA FASO CAPE-VERDE CHAD GAMBIA GUINEA-BISSAU MALI MAURITANIA NIGER SENEGAL

SOME DEFINITIONS

In these reports, reference will be made to four different eco-climatic zones based on the average annual precipitation and agricultural features, i.e. Sahelian zone, Sudano-Sahelian zone, Sudanian zone and Guinean zone. They are shown in the map and described below:

Sahelian zone: Where average annual precipitation ranges between 250 and 500 mm. This zone is at the limit of perennial vegetation. In parts where precipitation is less than 350 mm, only pastures and occasional short-cycle drought-resistant cereal crops are grown; all cropping in this zone is subject to high risk.

Sudano-Sahelian zone: Where average annual precipitation ranges from 500 to 900 mm. In those parts of this zone where precipitation is less than 700 mm, mostly crops with a short growing cycle of 90 days are generally cultivated predominantly sorghum and millet.

Sudanian zone: Where average annual precipitation ranges from 900 to 1 100 mm. In this zone, most cereal crops have a growing cycle of 120 days or more. Most cereals, notably maize, root and cash crops are grown in this zone.

Guinean zone: Where average annual precipitation exceeds 1 100 mm. Guinea-Bissau and a small area of southern Burkina Faso belong to this zone, more suited to root crop cultivation.

Reference will also be made to the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), also known by its trace on the earth's surface, called the Intertropical Front. The ITCZ is a quasi-permanent zone between two air masses separating the northern and southern hemisphere trade winds. The ITCZ moves north and south of the equator and usually reaches its most northerly position in July. Its position defines the northern limits of possible precipitation in the Sahel; rain-bearing clouds are generally situated 150-200 km south of the Intertropical Front.