THE GAMBIA:

Crop prospects adversely affected by poor rainfall in September. . Following mostly dry weather in July which caused germination failures and affected crops in several areas, rainfall resumed at the end of the first dekad of August, allowing replantings and start of recovery of affected crops. An FAO Mission which visited the country on 6-7 September anticipated a general reduction in yield potential and a decline in this year's cereal output, the final outcome of the season depending on the rainfall pattern through October. However, satellite imagery shows that rainfall decreased significantly during the second dekad of September, with mostly dry weather prevailing at the end of the month, notably in the east. The poor rainfall pattern has resulted in bleak harvest prospects.

A joint FAO/CILSS/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission is scheduled from 21 to 26 October to estimate the 2002 cereal production and assess the overall food supply situation.

Satellite Images (Cold Cloud Duration for the last three dekads)

Legend

Page with graphics of the evolution of Cold Cloud Duration average values over various zones of the country and compared to 1989-1995 average values.