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SAHEL WEATHER AND CROP SITUATION - September 1996

Year of publication 1996

Author Trade and Markets Division

Product type Book (stand-alone)

Series title Sahel Weather and Crop Situation Report

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Following below-normal rains in 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. However, in the areas affected by earlier dry conditions, yield potential will be reduced and late plantings or replantings will need rains late in the season to cover their entire growing cycle. From west to east, crop conditions are satisfactory in Senegal and The Gambia following widespread above-normal rains in late August. Abundant rainfall also favoured desalination and transplanting of swamp rice in Guinea Bissau. In Mauritania, increased rains benefited crops in late August. In Mali, reduced rains in mid-August may have stressed crops in the centre-north. In Burkina Faso, crop condition improved significantly following reduced rains in June. In Niger, good rains in mid-and late August favoured crop and pasture gr owth but rainfall remained below normal in the centre. In Chad, well above normal rains covered the south and the centre in late August. In Cape Verde, crop condition vary from island to island reflecting irregular pattern of rains. The last Meteosat satellite image up to the morning of 10 September (i.e. almost the entire first dekad) shows a southwards movement of the cloud coverage. Following generally good rains in late August, rains are expected to decrease significantly in most countr ies, notably in Mauritania, northern and central Senegal, northern Mali, northern Burkina Faso, central and eastern Niger and northern Chad. Precipitation remained relatively abundant in The Gambia, southern Senegal, Guinea Bissau, western and southern Mali, most parts of Burkina Faso and southern Chad.

Language English

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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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    SAHEL WEATHER AND CROP SITUATION REPORT - 12 June 1996 1996
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    Rains started in April in Burkina Faso and became abundant over the south and the centre in May. The rainy season started in May in the south of Chad, Guinea Bissau, Mali and the extreme south of Niger. First rains were registered in early June in southern Senegal and The Gambia. Rainfall became quite abundant in early June over most producing areas. Land preparation and plantings are progressing following the onset of the rains. Seasonably dry conditions prevail in Cape Verde, Mauritania and no rthern parts of Senegal. The last Meteosat image for the first dekad of June indicates that cloud coverage moved northwards and westwards but cloud duration, and therefore intensity of the rains, decreased in southern Mali and Burkina Faso. Rains should have started in southern and central-eastern Senegal, The Gambia, most parts of western Mali, and the extreme north of Burkina Faso. They were quite abundant over the main producing areas of Niger, allowing the start of planting, and progres sed northwards in central Chad. By contrast, rainfall decreased in southern Mali and in southern and central Burkina Faso.
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    SAHEL WEATHER AND CROP SITUATION - October 1996 1996
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    The rainy season is drawing to a close in the Sahelian zone of the Sahel. Following quite abundant rains in late August, precipitation remained generally adequate in the main producing areas during the first dekad of September. Rains decreased significantly since the second and the third dekads but remained widespread except in northern and central Senegal, Mauritania and western Niger. The METEOSAT image for the first dekad of October shows the southwards movement of the Intertropical Front whi ch indicates that the rainy season is drawing to a close in most of the Sahelian countries. Coarse grains are generally reaching reproduction/maturation stages. Maize is being harvested. Rice is developing satisfactorily or still being replanted in low lying areas. Reflecting adequate growing conditions, normal or above normal harvests are anticipated in Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau,Mali and southern Chad. Prospects are unfavourable in Mauritania and uncertain in Senegal and Niger. A series of joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Missions are scheduled during the second half of October in all countries of the region. They will work closely with national services and early warning systems to review the evolution of the growing season and prepare first estimates of 1996 cereal production. The pest situation remains mostly calm. Insects or birds attacks are reported locally but damage to crops remains limited. Significant Desert Locust infestations continued to develop i n Mauritania during September. Lower numbers of locusts were also present in Mali. As vegetation dries up, adults will concentrate and may form several small groups or swarms and move into Senegal and northern Mauritania. Ground control operations are underway.
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