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Sahel Report , No. 3, September 2007

Year of publication 2007

Pages 6

Author Trade and Markets Division

Product type Book (stand-alone)

Category Technical report

Series title Sahel Weather and Crop Situation Report

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Following below-normal rains in June and July in several parts of the Sahel, precipitation improved significantly in August over the main producing areas, thus reconstituting soil water reserves, providing relief to stressed crops and improving crop prospects in most countries. Heavy rains and floods caused considerable human casualties and damage to crops in several countries, notably in Burkina Faso, Chad, The Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal. However, in the areas affected by earli er dry conditions, yield potential will be reduced and late plantings or replanting will need rains late in the season to cover their entire growing cycle. Cape Verde is the only country where persistent dry conditions continued to be experienced in most producing areas through late August. From West to East, crop prospects are unfavourable in Cape Verde due to delayed rains. In The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania satellite imagery indicates that increased precipitation in August bene fited crops and pastures but good rains need to continue through October to allow them to reach full maturity. In Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad, harvest prospects improved significantly after the scant rains of June. Satellite imagery for early September indicates that good rains continued to fall over most of the Sahel region. The food supply situation remains generally satisfactory in most parts of the subregion. However, thousands of people have been made homeless by the floods and are in urgent need of food and non-food assistance.

Language English

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    Following an early start of rains in May in the eastern part of the Sahel, precipitation remained irregular in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Niger until the third dekad of June. Plantings were delayed and replantings carried out in several areas due to the erratic rains. Although precipitation improved somewhat in end-June/early July, the rainy season is not well established yet and yield potential may be compromised in several areas if rainfall does not improve significantly in the following few weeks. In western Sahel, where the cropping season usually starts later, the situation is not much better. Although some rains fell in June over Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Mauritania and Senegal, satellite rainfall estimates indicate that most of these countries are experiencing significant deficits which may affect plantings and crop development if rainfall conditions do not improve in July1. Seasonably dry conditions continue to prevail in Cape Verde where the rainy season usually start s in July. The Desert Locust situation is calm but small scale breeding is expected to start with the onset of the rains in southern Mauritania, northern Niger and Mali, and eastern Chad. Although localised food insecurity is reported in few countries, notably in Chad, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Niger due mostly to insecurity and lack of access, the food supply situation remains generally satisfactory in most parts of the subregion reflecting the bumper 2006 cereal harvest.
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    Sahel Report , No. 2, August 2007 2007
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    Early prospects for the 2007 cereal crops are mixed in the sub-region. Limited and irregular rains since the beginning of the season over most parts of the Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania and Senegal have delayed plantings, affected growing crops and raised serious concerns over the food supply outlook. Re-plantings were carried-out and yield potential has been seriously compromised in several areas. In Cape Verde, prospects for the maize crop, normally planted from July, are poor due to delay ed onset of rains. A recovery in crop prospects in these countries will heavily depend on the performance of rainfall in August. In central and eastern parts of the Sahel, by contrast, crop growing conditions have improved with increased and better-distributed rainfall in July in most agricultural regions of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Niger. However, substantial replantings were necessary. Pastures are regenerating gradually in the central and the eastern parts of the Sahel. The Desert L ocusts situation is calm but small-scale breeding is expected in parts of Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Chad as the rains increase in these areas. The food supply situation remains generally satisfactory in most parts of the subregion reflecting the bumper 2006 cereal harvest. However, localised food insecurity continues to be reported in few countries, notably in Chad, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Niger due mostly to insecurity and lack of access.
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