Heavy downpours adversely affected crops in several areas of Upper River Division. Elsewhere, the crop condition is generally satisfactory. The entire country received significant rainfall during the first dekad of September. Precipitation decreased during the second dekad totalling generally below 30 mm. Rains increased somewhat during the last dekad and remained widespread. Early sown short cycle varieties of maize and early millet reached advanced stages of maturity. Late sown early millet is at the flowering/heading stage; sorghum, late millet and upland rice are in the grain formation stage. Heavy rains were received in late August, notably in the east. Almost all meteorological stations registered more than 100 mm and many of them more than 200 mm of rainfall. These heavy rains caused flash flooding in some areas, notably in the Upper River Division, where some fields of maize failed.
Blister beetles are reported on millet in some areas. Birds locally attacked millet, maize and rice in some locations.
An FAO Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled to visit The Gambia from 28 October to 1 November.