SAHEL WEATHER AND CROP SITUATION REPORT Global Information and Early Warning System on food and agriculture Report No.2 - 12 July 2002

ERRATIC RAINS IN MOST COUNTRIES ARE LIKELY TO CAUSE WATER STRESS ON RECENTLY PLANTED COARSE GRAINS OR NECESSITATE REPLANTINGS

Click on one country or its name to consult the situation of this country

You can also look at the film of the rainy season in Western Africa and the Sahel.

SUMMARY

Rains started in late April or May in southern Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger and the extreme south-eastern part of Senegal. They progressed northwards in June in the rest of Senegal, The Gambia, and southern Mauritania. The rainy season started also in Guinea Bissau in mid-June after more than one month delay. Seasonably dry conditions continue to prevail in Cape Verde. Cumulative rainfall as of late June was generally below average in most countries.

Land preparation and plantings are in progress following the onset of the rains. Crops are emerging but erratic and below average rains in Burkina-Faso, Chad, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger and Senegal are likely to cause water stress on recently planted coarse grain crops or necessitate replantings.

Pastures are starting to regenerate. Grain-eating birds are reported in Mauritania and Niger. Grasshoper infestations are reported in Niger while rodent attacks to crops are reported in Chad. The Desert Locust situation remained calm during June.

SITUATION BY COUNTRY

BURKINA FASO  CAPE-VERDE  CHAD  GAMBIA  GUINEA-BISSAU 
MALI  MAURITANIA  NIGER  SENEGAL