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SAHEL WEATHER AND CROP SITUATION - June 1998

Year of publication 1998

Author Trade and Markets Division

Product type Book (stand-alone)

Series title Sahel Weather and Crop Situation Report

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Rains started in early April in Burkina Faso and became widespread and abundant over the entire country in late May. The rainy season started in April in the extreme south of Chad, Mali and Niger. First significant rains reached the east of Guinea-Bissau in mid-May and the extreme south-east of Senegal in early June. Elsewhere, in Cape Verde, The Gambia, most parts of Senegal, Mauritania and eastern Niger, seasonably dry conditions continue to prevail. The last Meteosat satellite image for the f irst days of June indicates that cloud coverage progressed northwards over the Sahel region, especially in Mali, Burkina Faso and western Niger. Land preparation and planting are progressing following the onset of the rains. Crops are emerging satisfactorily in Burkina Faso and southern Chad and Mali. Grasshoppers are reported in Burkina Faso and eastern Guinea Bissau. No Desert Locusts were reported recently in the region. Low numbers of adults are expected to appear in the summer bree ding areas of southern Mauritania, and northern Mali and Niger. These will lay eggs with the onset of the seasonal rains. However, the scale of breeding this summer is expected to be very small. African Migratory Locusts hoppers resulting from residual populations following infestations in late 1997 have been reported in Chad, near N'Djamena. Rains started in early April in Burkina Faso and became widespread and abundant over the entire country in late May. The rainy season started in Apri l in the extreme south of Chad, Mali and Niger. First significant rains reached the east of Guinea-Bissau in mid-May and the extreme south-east of Senegal in early June. Elsewhere, in Cape Verde, The Gambia, most parts of Senegal, Mauritania and eastern Niger, seasonably dry conditions continue to prevail. The last Meteosat satellite image for the first days of June indicates that cloud coverage progressed northwards over the Sahel region, especially in Mali, Burkina Faso and western Niger.

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    The rainy season is now well established in most countries of the Sahel. Following reduced rains in late June, precipitation remained generally widespread in July over most producing areas of Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad, becoming more abundant and reaching quite northern areas during the last dekad of July. By contrast, precipitation remained limited over Senegal and The Gambia and rains started only in late July in northern Senegal. In Mauritania, sufficient rains after mid-July permitte d plantings in the main producing zones. Rains started in Cape Verde in late July. Rainfall decreased in Guinea-Bissau but remained widespread. The latest Meteosat satellite image for the early days of August indicates that clouds remain present over most producing areas of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger where precipitation should remain adequate. By contrast, rains remain more limited over Senegal and The Gambia. Reflecting good rainfall in late July and early August, crop s are generally developing satisfactorily in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad. Cereals are emerging satisfactorily in Mauritania. In Senegal and The Gambia, crops are severely affected by reduced precipitation. Many plantings failed and improved rains are urgently needed to avoid extensive crop failure. Grasshoppers are reported in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger and Senegal. Grain-eating birds are also present in Mali and Senegal. Limited Desert Locusts activity is reported in Niger. Sm all-scale breeding is expected with the onset of the summer rains in southern Mauritania, northern Mali, Niger and Chad.
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