FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report 02/97

NIGER

CURRENT SITUATION

Seasonably dry conditions prevail. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission which visited the country in October, estimated 1996 aggregate cereal production on the basis of the agricultural survey at 2 325 000 tons. This is 11 percent more than in 1995 and 5 percent above the average of the last five years. Above all, sorghum production has increased while rice production is similar to 1995 results.

Infestations of Desert Locust in Tamesna were reported to be decreasing by late November and early December as most had fledged into immature adults. Scattered adults were seen at In Zinkad and in the Iguidi area in early December. Isolated adults may be present and will persist in a few areas of central Tamesna and perhaps in Air

Following an above-average harvest, the food supply is anticipated to remain mostly stable in 1996/97. However, several populations are particularly vulnerable following poor crops, notably in Tanout area, in Zinder department, where population movements have been reported in December. The national early warning system (SAP) estimated that the arrondissements of N’Guigmi, Ouallam, Tahoua, Tanout, Tchintabaraden and all the arrondissements of Agadez departments are particularly vulnerable. In addition, in early November, the national security stock was almost exhausted. However, funds from sales of cereals undertaken in 1996 or donors commitments for the stock’s reconstitution were registered and in late October, the marketing board (OPVN) launched a bid for the local purchase of 30 000 tons of millet for the reconstitution of the stock. Cereal prices are high due to low availibilities in northern Nigeria. On 11 December, the government launched an appeal for external assistance amounting to 118 000 tons of cereals. In late December, a joint FAO/WFP/FEWS Mission visited the arrondissement of Tanout in Zinder department to assess the situation of the vulnerable population and needs for external food assistance and non-food items including tools, seeds and logistic support. A first distribution of 570 tons of cereals has been organized in the arrondissement. In late January, another FAO mission has been organized in Ouallam arrondissement. Farmers stocks will be exhausted around mid-March and population movements are reported. Remaining populations have started to eat wild food.