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SAHEL WEATHER AND CROP SITUATION - September 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) Following widespread rains in July over most producing areas of Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad, precipitation was generally regular and well distributed in August, although decreasing during the last dekad of the month, notably in Burkina Faso and western Niger. Precipitation remained also regular over Senegal and The Gambia, thus improving growing conditions following late and reduced rains in July. In Mauritania, decreased rains in late August have been compensated by improved and widespre ad rains in early September. In Cape Verde, good rains were registered on the main islands in mid or late August. In Guinea-Bissau, satellite imagery indicates that abundant and widespread rains covered the entire country in August and early September. The impact, however, of civil strife on farming activities remains unclear. The latest Meteosat satellite image for the first dekad of September indicates that clouds remained present over most producing areas of the Sahel. Precipitation should ha ve decreased in southern Mali and eastern Chad but should have been widespread or even have increased in northern areas of Senegal, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Niger. Reflecting generally good rainfall since late July, crops are developing satisfactorily in most producing areas of Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad. Crop prospects improved in Senegal and The Gambia but rains need to last until October to cover the crop growing cycle, following the late start of the rainy season a nd subsequent reduced rains.

Language English

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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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    SAHEL WEATHER AND CROP SITUATION - October 1998 1998
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    The rainy season is nearing its end after abundant rainfall in September. Following decreased rains in late August, precipitation was generally widespread and above normal over most producing areas of the Sahel during the first dekad of September. Torrential rains were again registered in several areas of Niger where they caused flooding. Rains remained abundant during the second dekad, except in southern Mauritania, but they decreased significantly during the last dekad. Rains became abundant o n southern islands of Cape Verde in mid to late September. Rainfall was particularly abundant in Guinea-Bissau. The latest Meteosat satellite image for the first few days of October indicates that cloud cover is clearly moving southwards, marking the end of the rainy season in most northern areas. Reflecting good rainfall, crop prospects are generally favourable in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and in Chad except in the Sudanian zone affected by extensive flooding. In The Gambia and Senegal, c rop prospects improved following regular rains since August but in northern Senegal additional rains are needed in October as the rainy season started late this year. In Mauritania, growing conditions were mostly favourable for rainfed crops in September. Crop prospects have improved in Cape Verde following increased rains in September. They are uncertain in Guinea-Bissau as the impact of civil disturbances on plantings and other agricultural activities is not clear. Joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessm ent Missions are scheduled from mid-October to estimate with national services the 1998 cereal production. FAO's tentative assessment of yield forecast for cereals in the Sahelian countries is shown in Annex I.
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    SAHEL WEATHER AND CROP SITUATION - June 1998 1998
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    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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