Sahel Report No 3/97 Mali

MALI:

Crops are generally developing satisfactorily. Following generally above normal rains in May, precipitation remained abundant in the west in early and mid-June and in the centre in mid and late June. Above normal rains were registered in the centre-east in early and mid-July and in the south-west in late July while they remained generally widespread and regular in the other regions. Cumulative rainfall as of 31 July is normal to above normal in most meteorological stations of the south and the centre. It is well below normal in Kayes, Mopti and Nara. Coarse grains are growing satisfactorily in the south. They are emerging in the sahelian zone. Rice is emerging or being transplanted in the “offices-riz”. Pastures are regenerating satisfactorily and water is abundant in water points.

Grasshopper infestations are reported on millet and sorghum in the sahelian zone, notably in Dilly, Fallou, Mourdiah and Sébété areas where some replantings have been necessary. Caterpillars attacked young sorghum in Kirané area. Groups of Desert Locust adults appeared in June in the Adrar des Iforas and west of Tombouctou near Lac Faguibine and Lac Fate, where conditions were favourable for breeding. Nomads reported a large swarm in the Tilemsi Valley and in the Timetrine area but control operation teams could find only low densities of adults during further surveys. Low numbers of solitary adults are expected to persist in some parts of the Adrar des Iforas, Timetrine and Tilemsi as well as further west near Tombouctou. Others are likely to be present or appear near Gourma and Nioro. These are likely to breed on a small scale in those areas where conditions are favourable.

**Satellite Images (Cold Cloud Duration for the last three dekads)**

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