SENEGAL:
Mostly dry weather in mid July severely affected recently planted crops.
Following generally early and above normal rains in May in the south-east
and in the rest of the country in June, precipitation decreased in early
July and weather became almost completely dry during the second dekad of
the month over the entire country. Rains resumed during the last dekad,
except in the north-west, but remained generally below normal. In early
August, the northern half of the country remained mostly dry. Cumulative
rainfall as of late July is below normal everywhere except in the extreme
south. Following the good early rains, land preparation and wet planting
started earlier than usual in the south and the centre. The dry spell in
mid-July is likely to have severely stressed crops and recently planted
crops may have failed on large areas. Replantings will be necessary notably
in the centre and the north but seed availibility problems may occur.
Grasshoppers infestations are reported in Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack
and Louga regions. Caterpillar attacks in mid-July have been treated by
village teams.
