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SAHEL WEATHER AND CROP SITUATION REPORT - August 2001

Year of publication 2001

Author Trade and Markets Division

Product type Book (stand-alone)

Series title Sahel Weather and Crop Situation Report

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Rains were generally regular and widespread over the main producing zones of the Sahel in July. Rainfall improved notably in Chad, Mali and Niger during the second and the third dekads of July. Precipitation has been particularly abundant in the sudanian zone of Chad during the third dekad of July compensating for insufficient rains earlier in June. By contrast, the north of Burkina Faso received reduced rains. In the western countries (Mauritania, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal), rains w ere regular and above normal during the first dekad of July. They decreased somewhat in mid and late July but remained widespread, notably in Guinea-Bissau. Cape Verde registered its first significant rains in mid-July in Santiago and Fogo islands. Satellite imagery for the first week of August indicates that Chad, Burkina Faso and Senegal received above normal rains. Soil moisture reserves are generally adequate to allow a satisfactory crop development in most agricultural zones. No water stress is reported so far. Late plantings of coarse grains are underway in the north of Senegal and in Mauritania while wet plantings have started in the agricultural islands of Cape Verde. Pastures are regenerating gradually in the pastoral zones. Infestations of grasshoppers are reported in Chad and Niger resulting in localized replanting of coarse grains. Although no Desert Locusts were reported, low numbers of solitarious adults are likely to be present in areas of southern Mauritania, northern Mali, northwestern Niger and perhaps in eastern Chad and are expected to increase gradually with rainfall.

Language English

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    SAHEL WEATHER AND CROP SITUATION REPORT - 9 August 1996 1996
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    Following generally adequate rains in May and June, except in Burkina Faso which registered two mostly dry dekads in mid and late June, precipitation remained below normal in early or mid-July in northern Senegal, western and central Mali, most parts of Niger and in the Sahelian zone of Chad where substantial replantings have been necessary. However, rains increased significantly and progressed northwards during the last dekad of July, notably in southern Mauritania, western and central Mali and in southern and central Chad where they benefited recently planted crops. Widespread and abundant rains in July helped desalination of swamp rice in Guinea Bissau and crop emergence in The Gambia. In Cape Verde, rains have started on all islands, allowing first maize plantings. Overall, although growing conditions have improved since late July, crop prospects remain uncertain in several countries. The last Meteosat satellite image up to the morning of 9 August (i.e about 4/5 of a full deka d) is indicating that rains decreased significantly over the Sahel, although cloud coverage remained widespread over the main producing areas, except in central and northern Mali and central and eastern Niger where no clouds were present (or only shortly). Therefore, some, but limited, rains are likely to have been received over most parts of Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, south-west and south-east of Mauritania, western and south-eastern Mali, northern Burkina Faso and western Niger. Rains have been more abundant over southern and central Burkina Faso and Chad. Following good precipitation in late July, soil moisture reserves have been generally reconstituted, but more rains are needed to avoid water stress, notably in Senegal, in western, central and northern Mali and in central and eastern Niger.
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    Book (stand-alone)
    SAHEL WEATHER AND CROP SITUATION REPORT - August 2000 2000
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    Rains have been generally widespread and abundant over the main agricultural zones of the Sahel in July. They have been particularly abundant in early and mid-July over Mali and Niger, in late July/early August over Senegal, The Gambia and southern/western Mauritania, and during the entire month of July in Chad. Precipitation was more limited in Burkina Faso but improved significantly over the western half of the country in early August. Rainfall was abundant in Guinea-Bissau. Significant rains were registered on all the islands of Cape Verde in late July. Flooding was reported following heavy rains in mid July in Niger, in late July/early August in northern Senegal and Mauritania and in early August in northern Burkina Faso. Satellite images for the first dekad of August shows that cloud coverage remains present over all the agricultural zones of the Sahel. Precipitation has been particularly abundant over southern Mali and the Sahelian zone of Chad, but more limited over western and eastern Niger and southern Chad. Following these good rains, plant water needs have generally been covered and crops are developing satisfactorily. Recently planted millet and sorghum crops are emerging satisfactorily in northern Senegal, Mauritania, Niger, northern Burkina Faso, Mali and Chad. Elsewhere, crops are growing normally, except in eastern Burkina Faso where more rains are needed to prevent water stress.
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