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SAHEL WEATHER AND CROP SITUATION Report No 4 - 10 September 1997
GROWING CONDITIONS IMPROVE IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE SAHEL
SUMMARY
In the western part of the Sahel, following an early start of the rainy season in May/June, rains decreased to well below normal over most parts of Senegal, The Gambia and Mauritania from the second dekad of July up to mid-August, severely affecting early planted crops. Precipitation resumed in late August/early September with abundant and widespread rains over the entire region. In the eastern part of the Sahel, weather conditions have been much more favourable with generally above normal rainfall in Chad and widespread and regular rains in Niger. In between, in the central part of the region, precipitation remained generally regular and widespread in Mali and Burkina Faso. In Cape Verde, abundant rains were received in late August on all islands. The latest Meteosat satellite image for the first days of September shows that cloud cover remains over most parts of the Sahel but that intensity of the rains decreased in central and northern Senegal, Mauritania as well as in Niger and northern Chad. Rains remained quite abundant in Guinea Bissau, southern Senegal, Mali, southern Burkina Faso and southern Chad.
Assessment missions have been fielded in drought affected areas of Senegal, The Gambia and Mauritania. Reduced rains in July in the west of the Sahel have severely affected crop development and will diminish yield potential. Abundant rains of late August/early September permitted replenishment of soil moisture reserves, regeneration of pastures and filling of water reservoirs, thus improving prospects for crops that had not failed. Crops are generally growing satisfactorily in the centre and the east of the Sahel.
Grasshoppers are reported in Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger and Senegal. Only isolated Desert Locust adults were reported in southern Mauritania. Numbers are expected to increase as a result of widespread rains in late August and subsequent breeding that may occur during September.
[Via the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs Integrated Regional Information Network for West Africa (IRIN-WA) Reports mailing list. The material contained in this communication may not necessarily reflect the views of the UN or its agencies. If you re-print, copy, archive or re-post this item, please retain this credit and disclaimer. Quotations or extracts from this report should be attributed to the original sources where appropriate. For further information: e-mail irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci, Tel: +225 217367 Fax: +225 216335.]
Message-Id: <3.0.1.32.19970911093001.00741aa0@pop.africaonline.co.ci> Date: Thu, 11 Sep 1997 09:30:01 +0100 From: UN DHA IRIN - West Africa <irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci> Subject: Sahel: FAO/GIEWS Sahel Report No 4 97.9.11
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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