Planting of the first maize crop is underway in the south and progressing northwards with the onset of rains. Reflecting generally adequate growing conditions, the aggregate 2000 cereal production is estimated at 905 000 tonnes, which is slightly below the 1999 record but remains well above average.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Markets are well supplied and prices of cereals remain generally stable. Cereal imports for domestic use and re-exports during the 2001 marketing year are estimated at 143 000 tonnes and food aid requirements at 11 000 tonnes.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Off-season crops are being harvested. Final 2000 production figures have been released by the government and are significantly lower than the estimates of the FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission in October 2000 which already indicated a below-average harvest. The aggregate output of cereals is now estimated at 1 863 000 tonnes, which is 31 percent below the 1999 record crop and 23 percent below the average of the previous five years.
Following this reduced crop, the overall food supply situation is tight, notably in the north, the centre and the east where cereal production decreased significantly. The return of Burkinab� from C�te d'Ivoire to their villages is putting additional pressure on food supply. However, following 1998 and 1999 successive bumper crops, some household stocks are still available. Prices of cereals remained generally stable and below the 1995-99 average in January and February, except in the north where they increased significantly. In March, they increased significantly in the north, east and centre. The Government has launched a 4 000 tonnes food aid distribution programme for about 68 000 persons in 17 affected provinces.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. The 2000 maize production has been estimated by a joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission at 18 500 tonnes, which is significantly below the 1999 record crop but remains well above average.
Following two successive good harvests, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. However, local production covers only about a quarter of consumption requirement and the country relies on imports and food aid to cover its needs. With available stocks and planned commercial imports and food aid for the coming months, markets should remain well supplied with stable prices. The cereal import requirement for the 2000/01 marketing year (November/October) is estimated at 88 000 tonnes and the food aid requirement at 53 000 tonnes.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Harvesting of berb�r� (flood recessional sorghum) is underway, notably in Gu�ra and Salamat departments. Yields are lower than last year due to shortage of water and grain-eating birds attacks. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission estimated the 2000 cereal production at 890 000 tonnes, which is 28 percent below the 1999 record level and 16 percent below the previous five years' average.
Following this reduced harvest, the food supply situation is tight in the structurally deficit areas of the Sahelian zone but some farmers' stocks are still available following 1998 and 1999 bumper crops. Unusual population movements were reported from several cantons of Lac Department to major urban centres, southern Chad or the Lake Chad area. In the Sudanian Zone, the food situation is also worsening in the rice producing areas, notably in Mayo-Kebbi department. The cotton harvest in the south is also anticipated to be reduced, but groundnut production is good. Prices of millet increased in February in the Sahelian zone. Prices of rice also increased sharply in the major producing areas of the Sudanian zone. By contrast, prices of onions dropped as many farmers turned to growing this crop. The migration of livestock from the Sahelian zone could trigger overgrazing and a shortage of pasture in the Sudanian zone. A locallyorganized joint CILSS/FAO/WFP/FEWS-NET assessment of the food supply situation in the at-risk zones conducted in early January estimated the at-risk population at 800 000 persons for whom about 40 000 tonnes of cereals are needed. About 700 000 people are also considered moderately vulnerable. The sale of 20 000 tonnes of cereals at subsidised prices is recommended. A WFP Emergency Operation has recently been approved to provide 27 000 tonnes of food aid to 375 000 beneficiaries in eight departments of the Sahelian zone (Assonga, Bahr el Ghazal, Batha, Biltine, Gu�ra, Kanem, Lac and Ouadda�).
Planting of the first maize crop is underway in the south and progressing northwards with the arrival of the rains.
Following an above-average cereal harvest in 2000, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. However, recent civil disturbances may have affected marketing activities, exacerbating an already deteriorating economic situation. The external debt has reached about US$1.5 billion, while GDP declined by about 2 percent in 2000. The fall in prices of cocoa, of which C�te d'Ivoire is the leading producer in the world, has been a major contributing factor. Some 86 000 Liberian refugees and 1 500 Sierra Leoneans remain in the west.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Final estimates for the 2000 cereal production point to a record harvest of 175 600 tonnes, representing an increase of about 16 percent compared to 1999 and 48 percent compared to the previous five years' average.
Following two successive bumper crops in 1999 and 2000, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. However, the Central River Division (CRD) North gathered poor crops due to blister beetles and striga infestations in early millet fields. Poor germination of groundnut seed due to high pest infestations at storage level also resulted in reduced groundnut production. A total of 9 276 persons are severely affected and would need about 250 tonnes of cereals to fill the gap for the lean period.
Planting of the first maize crop is underway in the south and progressing northwards with the arrival of the rains.
Reflecting poor growing conditions in 2000, the food supply situation is tight in some areas. The government announced its plans to halve its rice imports in 2001 by developing more than one million hectares of inland valleys for rice production. About 10 000 Liberian and up to 2 500 Sierra Leoneans refugees remain in the country.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Reflecting a good harvest in 2000 and a record crop in 1999, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory and markets are generally well supplied, except in the south-east where rebel incursions from Sierra Leone have severely affected agriculture and marketing activities. Humanitarian agencies have suspended their operations in the "Parrot's Beak" area, a strip of Guinean territory that juts into Sierra Leone near the Liberian border, where the military do not allow access. Consequently, tens of thousands of refugees are inaccessible, notably in the camp of Kolomba, which hosts about 60 000 refugees.
More than 400 000 refugees from Liberia and Sierra Leone remain in the country. UNHCR has established new refugee camps north of Kissigoudou, to relocate about 60 000 refugees from Gu�k�dou area and the Parrot's Beak. Kountaya, the first new camp, has reached its capacity of 26 000 refugees. A second camp has been opened at Bomeah, in the Albadaria region and two others are under construction in Telikoro and Mandoukoro. A transit camp has been established in Conakry to facilitate repatriation of refugees to Sierra Leone by boat.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission in mid-October estimated 2000 cereal production at 168 000 tonnes which is 21 percent above the previous year's level and close to the pre crisis level of 1997.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Markets remain well supplied countrywide and prices are stable. However, some population groups with low purchase power are facing food difficulties, notably in urban areas and in Pirada, Fulacunda, Tite, S. Domingos and Ingor� areas.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. The 2000 rice paddy production is estimated at 144 000 tonnes, compared with a pre-war (1988) figure of 259 000 tonnes. The area planted to rice in the year 2000 was estimated at 135 000 hectares, suggesting an average yield of 1.1 tonnes/hectare. Small plots and poor yields would appear to be the main cause of low production per household. Lack of employment opportunities during and after the war has compelled many families to grow some rice for the first time, in order to survive. It has also caused cultivation of land which had never previously been considered for rice production, such as the coastal mangrove swamps. As a result, there are many more families in rice production than in pre-war times, albeit with smaller plots. The main constraints faced by farmers include labour shortages, shortage of rice seed, lack of any marketing organization, high levels of post-harvest losses and poor road conditions.
Eating habits have changed dramatically since the war in favour of cassava, which has increased substantially in both area and production. The Mission estimated that, taking into account likely losses, some 480 000 tonnes of cassava will be available for consumption in 2001, compared to 308 000 tonnes in1988. Plantains are also said to be more important than before.
The cereal import requirement in 2001 is estimated at 200 000 tonnes, with commercial imports at 160 000 tonnes. Some 40 000 tonnes of food aid will be required to cover the deficit. WFP is seeking a total of 21 000 tonnes of cereals and pulses and 3 800 tonnes of other commodities to meet the food aid needs of about 145 000 refugees and other war affected people, as well as 140 000 children attending primary schools during the year 2001.
In Lofa county, one of Liberia's main rice producing areas, fighting continues. Periodic rebel incursions since August 1999 intensified in October and have disrupted farming and displaced thousands of people, notably in the towns of Gorlu, Ganglota and Selayae. Thousands of civilians have been fleeing Upper Lofa county to lower Lofa. Thousands of Guineans fleeing hostilities in their country have also sought refuge in border towns in Liberia. More than 15 000 have arrived in Bong county and northern Lofa county. WFP is distributing food aid to about 420 000 Liberian returnees. Food distribution to Sierra Leonean refugees in camps in Montserrado and Sinje areas in Grand Cape Mount County also continue.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Off-season crop production activities are underway. In S�gou area, farmers planted more areas to rice but also to vegetables (onions, tomatoes) and cassava. Tombouctou area, area planted was lower due to delays in completing the coarse grains harvest. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission estimated the 2000 cereal production at 2 386 300 tonnes. This is 17.5 percent below 1999's record (2 893 600 tonnes) but is very close to the average of the previous five years. Desert Locusts were reported in March in Timetrine and the southern Adrar des Iforas between Gao and Tabankort.
Following two successive bumper crops in 1998 and 1999, farmers' stocks had been replenished. They were estimated by the national statistical service at 520 000 tonnes just before 2000 harvest. The national security stock is also at its recommended level of 35 000 tonnes (plus 25 000 tonnes in the form of "financial" security stock). Therefore, the overall food situation is satisfactory. However, some areas may be at risk of food shortages following poor harvests, notably in Mopti, Gao, Kidal, Tombouctou and northern S�gou regions. For its technical rotation, part of the national security stock could be sold by the marketing board in structurally deficit areas. The SAP (national early warning system) classified 400 000 persons as at risk of "food difficulties" in the "cercles" of Douentza, Mopti, Bandiagara and Youvarou in Mopti region; Niafunk� and Gourma-Rharous in Tombouctou region; Gao, Ansongo, Bourem and M�naka in Gao region and Kidal and Ab��bara in Kidal region. It recommended the distribution of 10 790 tonnes of millet and sorghum to these populations for 3 months.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Production of rainfed (dieri) crops was well above average. Irrigated areas decreased in Trarza and Brakna and yields are anticipated to be reduced due to late plantings and lack of production credit. Prospects for recession (walo) crops in Brakna, Gorgol and Trarza are also less favourable than in the previous year as planted areas decreased due to reduced water levels in the Senegal River. Attacks by birds and caterpillars were also reported in several areas. A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission estimated the 2000 cereal production at 177 000 tonnes, which is 8 percent below the 1999 level and about average. A few Desert Locusts are present near Zouerate in the north.
The food situation improved in rural areas following good rainfed crops. Markets are well supplied. Sorghum prices increased sharply in Brakna, Gorgol and Trarza following poor recession crops. Several populations remain vulnerable, notably in various areas of the two Hodhs, Aftout and Affol�. The Government launched in February a request for 20 000 tonnes of emergency food aid.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Off-season gardening remained limited due to insufficient water. The statistical services have released the final 2000 production figures. Cereal output is estimated at 2 143 000 tonnes, which is 25 percent below the 1999 level and about 10 percent below the average of the previous five years.
Following this below-average harvest, the food supply situation is tight in the traditionally food deficit areas. Markets are generally well supplied but prices of cereals increased significantly in March. Migration of men from their villages in search of jobs or food is reported in Tillabery department. The atrisk zones are mainly in Agadez and northern Diffa, Tahoua, Maradi, Tillabery (notably in Ouallam and Tillabery) and Zinder departments. In late March, the Government launched an appeal for international assistance. The government and donors are selling millet and sorghum at a subsidized price (about 15-35 percent lower than the prevailing market price) in the areas that experienced production shortfalls.
Rains started in the south-east in early March and progressed to the south-west in mid-March, allowing land preparation and plantings of the first maize crop. Reflecting generally favourable growing conditions during the 2000 rainy season, an average to aboveaverage harvest is anticipated.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Some population groups, however, remain vulnerable following flooding in Sokoto in the northwest.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Following the release of final production figures for rainfed crops, the aggregate output of cereals in 2000 has been revised to 1 073 000 tonnes which is about 14 percent above average.
Following two successive good harvests, the overall food situation is satisfactory. Markets are well supplied. The price of millet and sorghum decreased following harvest but increased somewhat in early 2001, while the price of rice remains stable.
Seasonably dry conditions prevail. A reduced rice crop has been harvested in 2000 as planted areas were significantly below the previous year's level due to a resurgence of civil strife in early May, the critical planting period. Due to insecurity, input distribution and relief operations were suspended or seriously disrupted, notably in the north. Fighting along the border with Guinea and Liberia intensified in late 2000, resulting in new waves of population displacement. About 3 500 refugees arrived in eastern Sierra Leone, fleeing fighting in the "Parrot's Beak" region of southwestern Guinea. The returnees from Liberia are arriving into Daru and Zimmi, while those from Guinea are arriving through Kono to Kenema. Returnees also arrived by boat from Conakry.
Reflecting a reduced crop and transport problems, the food supply situation will remain tight in 2001. In addition to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) already registered, new IDPs have been registered in the south and west following the upsurge of fighting in May and October. More than 400 000 Sierra Leonean refugees remain in neighbouring West African countries, mostly in Guinea and Liberia.
Despite the hostilities, WFP and NGOs continue food distributions. WFP plans to distribute more than 50 000 tonnes of food aid to an estimated 544 000 beneficiaries during 2001. The government launched a resettlement plan in Freetown, Port Loko, Kenema and Pejehun districts which have been declared safe for people to return to. IDPs returning to their areas of origin will receive a two-month resettlement ration. It has been estimated that up to 25 000 IDPs in the camps could be resettled, but there appears to be considerable reluctance of some IDPs to move to their places of origin due to the lack of local infrastructure there.
Planting of the first maize crop is underway in the south and progressing northwards following the arrival of the rains.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. However, people affected by floods in various areas remain vulnerable.
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