SAHEL WEATHER AND CROP SITUATION - October 1997
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In the western part of the Sahel, harvest prospects have improved following abundant and widespread rains in September, which partly compensated for earlier drier conditions. After an early start of the rainy season in May/June, precipitation was well below normal from mid-July up to mid-August over most parts of Senegal, The Gambia and Mauritania, severely affecting early planted crops and rainfed “dieri” crops in Mauritania. Abundant precipitation in late August/early September replenished soi l moisture reserves in these countries and filled dams in Mauritania, improving prospects for recession or irrigated crops. Abundant rains in September also benefited crops in Guinea Bissau. In the central part of the Sahel, reflecting generally favourable growing conditions, harvest prospects are mostly favourable in Mali and western and northern Burkina Faso but unfavourable in eastern Burkina Faso. In the eastern part of the Sahel, prospects are mixed in Niger with pockets of poor anticipated harvests. In Chad, generally widespread and regular rains benefited crop development but African Migratory Locusts are threatening crops in the north-west. In Cape Verde, the maize crop is growing satisfactorily in the humid zones. The latest Météosat satellite image for the first days of October shows that cloud cover disappeared over most parts of Mauritania, northern Senegal, northern Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger and eastern Chad, marking the end of the rainy season. Precipitation remained q uite abundant in Guinea Bissau, more limited but widespread in southern Senegal, southern Mali, southern and central Burkina Faso and south-western Chad.