CHAD:

The rainy season is drawing to an end in the north, where crops may still need additional rains, while harvest prospects are generally favourable in the south. Following widespread and abundant rains of late August, precipitation declined in early September but remained present in northern locations. Clouds started to move southwards during the second dekad. The third dekad was dry in several areas of the Sahelian zone. Maize is being harvested while millet is maturing. In the Sahelian zone, sorghum is heading/flowering or reaching maturity in some areas. In the Sudanian zone, it is maturing or already harvested for early planted or short cycle varieties. Pastures are in excellent condition in the Sudanian zone and poorer in the Sahelian zone. Herd migration has already started in some areas of the north.

The Desert Locust situation remains calm. Some adults may be present in Biltine area. Grasshoppers caused damage to crops in several areas of Batha, Biltine, Guera, Kanem, Lac, Ouaddaï and Salamat prefectures. Grain-eating birds attacked maturing millet and sorghum in the Sahelian zone and in Moyen Chari. Caterpillars, other insects and rodents are also reported locally.

An FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission, composed of experts or consultants from FAO/GIEWS, the DIAPER Programme and the Agrhymet Centre of CILSS, is scheduled from 14 to 18 October to assess the 1996 growing season and crop production with national services and the early warning system (SAP) of Chad.

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

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