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SAHEL WEATHER AND CROP SITUATION REPORTGlobal Information and Early Warning System on food and agricultureReport No. 4, 13 September 2002
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You can also look at the film of the rainy season in Western Africa and the Sahel.
SUMMARYFollowing the dry spell in July which severely affected growing crops and raised serious concerns over the food supply outlook in the western part of the Sahel, precipitation resumed during the first dekad of August in most parts of The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania and Senegal. However, an FAO mission which visited Senegal and The Gambia in late August/early September anticipated declines in this year’s cereal production due to reduced yield potential and localised crop failures. In Mauritania, most "dieri" (rainfed) crops failed. In Cape Verde recently planted maize also failed in parts, following irregular rains in August. Mauritania and The Gambia have declared national disasters and appealed for emergency food aid. Although crop production is forecast to drop this year in the western part of the Sahel, the extent of the decline will depend on the rainfall pattern through October.
In the eastern and the central parts of the Sahel, weather conditions have been much more favourable with widespread and quite regular rains over most of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Niger. Crops are generally growing satisfactorily and overall crop prospects are favourable.
Pastures are regenerating gradually. Grasshoppers are reported in Chad, Mali, Niger and Senegal, while army worm infestations are reported in Chad and Mali. The desert locusts situation remains calm but small numbers of adults are reported in Mauritania and Niger. Small-scale breeding is expected to occur in Mauritania and parts of northern Mali, Niger and perhaps in eastern Chad.
SITUATION BY COUNTRY
BURKINA FASO 
CAPE-VERDE CHAD GAMBIA GUINEA-BISSAU
MALI MAURITANIA NIGER SENEGAL
