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Sahel Report , No. 1, 2006

Year of publication 2006

Pages 6

Author Trade and Markets Division

Product type Book (stand-alone)

Series title Sahel Weather and Crop Situation Report

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) The rainy season has started in the Sahel. Seasonal rains commenced in May in southern Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger and the extreme south-east of Senegal. Seasonably dry conditions prevail in the rest of Senegal, Cape Verde, The Gambia , Mauritania and most of Guinea-Bissau . According to ACMAD’s (African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development) seasonal Climate Prediction for 2006, there are higher probabilities that most of the Sahel region will experience "near-normal" to "ab ove-normal” rainfall conditions during the period July-September (when the region receives about 80 percent of its annual precipitation). Land preparation and planting are in progress following the onset of the rains. Seed availability is expected to be adequate in most countries, although localized shortages are likely in a few countries including Cape-Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Niger, where crop production was insufficient in some areas last year. In spite of an overall s atisfactory food supply situation, following a sharp recovery of cereal production in 2005 from the previous year’s drought and locust affected harvest, serious localized food insecurity is reported in several countries. In Guinea-Bissau a failure of the 2005 rice crop in the southern regions of Quinara and Tombali, combined with market disruption in the cashew sector, the source of cash income for rural households, led to severe food difficulties in these regions. In Niger, high levels of acute malnutrition are still reported in parts of the country, while in Mauritania the hunger period reportedly came early this year for thousands of households due to insufficient cereal production in 2005 and a lack of income. In these countries and others, vulnerable groups need to be continuously monitored and assisted as necessary during the lean season.

Language English

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    After the first rains in southern Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Niger in May, precipitation remained irregular and below normal in these countries until the third dekad of June. The erratic rains have stressed crops, and re-plantings were carried-out in several areas. Precipitation improved somewhat in Burkina Faso in end-June/early July, but dry weather conditions continue to delay plantings and to affect crops in other countries, notably in Niger, where yield potential may be seriously compromi sed if the situation does not improve in July. By contrast, crop growing conditions have been more favourable in the western part of the Sahel, where rains started in June. In Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Mauritania and Senegal, land preparation and plantings are in progress following the onset of the rains. Seasonably dry conditions continue to prevail only in Cape Verde. The Desert Locusts situation is calm but isolated adults were reported in Niger and are probably present in the summer breedin g areas on the Sahel. Grasshoppers, army worms and grain-eating birds are also reported in a few countries. The overall food supply situation remains satisfactory in the subregion. However, serious localized food insecurity is reported in several countries, notably in Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Niger, due mostly to lack of access to food. In the latter country, 60 percent of the population is food insecure or at-risk according to the latest Vulnerability Assessment Survey done by the Go vernment, jointly with FAO, FEWSNet and WFP. As a result, the Government has reportedly started subsidized sales of about 20 000 tonnes of cereal in vulnerable communities.
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