NIGER:
Crops are generally developing satisfactorily. Following generally
adequate rains in May and June over the main producing areas which permitted
widespread plantings, rains increased in early July. They decreased during
the second dekad but resumed in late July and early August in the west
and south-west while they remained below normal in the centre and the east.
Cumulative rainfall is above normal in about half of the meteorological
stations. Plantings are completed almost everywhere. Stages of development
of the crops vary in the regions but they are predominantly in the vegetative
stage.
Infestations of grasshoppers are reported in Diffa and Zinder departments.
Insect attacks are also reported in several areas, notably on the niébé
in the centre-south. Low numbers of solitary Desert Locust adults are likely
to be present in some parts of the Tamesna and western Aïr where they
are expected to breed in areas of green vegetation which developed following
good rains in June/July. Other adults may appear and breed in the Tahoua
and Tillabery areas.
