| Area: | 1 267 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Northern part arid, southern part semi-arid with rains in June-October |
| Population: | 9.29 million (1996 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 220 (1995) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; land-locked sahelian country |
| Logistics: | Roads inadequate during rainy season |
| Major foodcrops: | Millet and sorghum, pulses, roots and tubers |
| Marketing year: | November/October; Lean season: July-September |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 70 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Following widespread and regular rains over most areas in July, precipitation drastically decreased in intensity in August. Rains were low in early September, became scarce in mid-September but increased slightly in late September. Cumulative rainfall as of late September is below last year’s level in about half of the meteorological stations and below normal in about two-thirds of them. Stages of development of the crops vary in the regions but plants are generally in the maturation/harvesting stages. Millet is more advanced than sorghum. Early millet has been harvested and had appeared on the markets.
Infestations of grasshoppers are reported in Dakoro and Tessaoua arrondissements of Maradi department, Tera arrondissement in the Tillabery department and Gouré and Tanout arrondissements in the Zinder department. Insect attacks are also reported on millet at the flowering stage in several areas. Grain eating birds are present in Gouré and Tillabery areas but they remained dispersed. Low numbers of Desert Locust solitary adults may be present and breeding in a few places in Tamesna and western Aïr. However, population levels are expected to be remain at a low level. Hoppers and adults could become concentrated in the remaining areas of green vegetation and form a few small groups.
A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission visited Niger from 24 October to 3 November. Composed of experts from FAO/GIEWS, the DIAPER Programme and the Agrhymet Centre of CILSS, this Mission worked closely with the national services involved in the monitoring of rainy season (meteorology, hydrology, plant protection, agricultural statistics) as well as the SAP (early warning system) and the SIM (price information system). Aggregate 1997 output of cereals is estimated at 2 246 300 tons, which is 0.6 percent below the 1996 level and 2.8 percent above the five-year average.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
Normal Production |
6 |
66 |
2 138 |
2 210 |
|
Normal Imports |
25 |
40 |
135 |
200 |
|
of which: Structural food aid |
- |
5 |
10 |
15 |
|
1996/97 Domestic Availability |
8 |
34 |
2 300 |
2 342 |
|
1996 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
2 |
83 |
2 176 |
2 261 |
|
1996 Production (rice in milled terms) |
2 |
54 |
2 176 |
2 232 |
|
Possible stock drawdown |
5 |
- |
80 |
85 |
|
1996/97 Utilization |
32 |
109 |
2 470 |
2 592 |
|
Food Use |
31 |
81 |
2 074 |
2 186 |
|
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
(33) |
(33) |
|
Non-food use |
1 |
8 |
347 |
356 |
|
Exports or Re-exports |
- |
- |
15 |
15 |
|
Possible stock build up |
- |
20 |
- |
20 |
|
1996/97 Import Requirement |
25 |
55 |
180 |
260 |
|
Anticipated commercial imports |
25 |
50 |
165 |
240 |
|
Imported food aid needs |
- |
5 |
15 |
20 |
|
Current Aid Position | ||||
|
Imported food aid pledges |
8 |
3 |
23 |
34 |
|
of which: Delivered |
4 |
3 |
20 |
27 |
|
Donor-financed local purchases |
- |
- |
33 |
33 |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) |
3 |
9 |
223 |
235 |
|
Indexes | ||||
|
1996 production as % of normal: |
102 |
|||
|
1996/97 import requirement as % of normal: |
130 |
|||
|
1996/97 food aid requirement as % of normal: |
133 |
