SAHEL WEATHER AND CROP SITUATION REPORT Global Information and Early Warning System on food and agriculture
	Report No.3 - 11 August 2000

GENERALLY ABUNDANT RAINS IN JULY BENEFITED CROP AND PASTURE DEVELOPMENT

SUMMARY

Rains have been generally widespread and abundant over the main agricultural zones of the Sahel in July. They have been particularly abundant in early and mid-July over Mali and Niger, in late July/early August over Senegal, The Gambia and southern/western Mauritania, and during the entire month of July in Chad. Precipitation was more limited in Burkina Faso but improved significantly over the western half of the country in early August. Rainfall was abundant in Guinea-Bissau. Significant rains were registered on all the islands of Cape Verde in late July. Flooding was reported following heavy rains in mid July in Niger, in late July/early August in northern Senegal and Mauritania and in early August in northern Burkina Faso. Satellite images for the first dekad of August shows that cloud coverage remains present over all the agricultural zones of the Sahel. Precipitation has been particularly abundant over southern Mali and the Sahelian zone of Chad, but more limited over western and eastern Niger and southern Chad.

Following these good rains, plant water needs have generally been covered and crops are developing satisfactorily. Recently planted millet and sorghum crops are emerging satisfactorily in northern Senegal, Mauritania, Niger, northern Burkina Faso, Mali and Chad. Elsewhere, crops are growing normally, except in eastern Burkina Faso where more rains are needed to prevent water stress.

Pastures are regenerating well througout the pastoral zones of the Sahel. The pest situation is mostly calm despite reports of grasshopper attacks in Chad, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger and Senegal. A few Desert Locusts have also been reported in Mauritania, near Aioun El Atrouss. A small scale breeding may be in progress in southern Mauritania, north-eastern Mali and northern Niger where there was good rainfall in July. These areas require regular monitoring in the coming months.

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