Food outlook considered good

Niger has produced a large enough supply of grain in 2001/2002, but some 16 percent of the population still face intermediate levels of food insecurity, the Food Early Warning System (FEWS) reported on Tuesday.

In an assessment carried out between 28 December 2001 and 6 January 2002, FEWS found that there was a general production shortfall in the Tillabery, Dosso and Tahoua regions, mainly as a result of land disputes.

"The food security conditions for January were good as a result of a growing season that produced a 297,500 mt grain surplus," FEWS said in its report. "However, farm families in 1,933 villages are experiencing what the National Early Warning System (SAP) defines as moderate and intermediate levels of food insecurity".

"Although the country's major seasonal ponds and lakes are beginning to dry up, there is still enough water for planting vegetable gardens and watering animals".

The report quoted the Department of Agriculture, however, as saying no district in Niger was experiencing famine conditions or extreme food insecurity because enough grain had been produced for both rural and urban households to be held in reserve as household security stocks.

FEWS is an initiative funded by the US Agency for International Development aimed at strengthening the ability of African countries and regional organisations to manage threats to food security by providing timely and analytical early warning and vulnerability information.

The full report can be found on [http://www.fews.net/centers/files/Niger
]