Food security prospects mixed

Food security prospects in West Africa as at November 2002, were varied with a mixed performance recorded in the cereal harvest in the Sahel sub-region, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported on Friday.

Below average food harvests were anticipated in Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau and Mauritania, while near average production was expected in Chad, the Gambia, Mali and Senegal. Above-average outputs were foreseen in Burkina Faso and Niger, FAO said.

"Following the first rains in June, a long dry spell from early July through August severely affected crops in Cape Verde, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania and Senegal. Production of rainfed crops fell sharply, although rainfall in August reduced losses somewhat," the FAO/GIEWS Food crops and shortages report 5/2002 said. "In the eastern and central parts of the Sahel, growing conditions were more favourable, despite an erratic start of the rainy season which necessitated replantings."

According to the report, estimated aggregate 2002 cereal production in the nine countries of the Sahel in October was at 11.3 million tonnes, three percent lower than 2001 but 11 percent above average.

"Prospects are favourable in Benin, Nigeria and Togo but less favourable in Ghana, following below normal rains in September and October. In Liberia, agricultural activities have been disrupted by renewed civil strife, pointing to reduced rice production this year," the report said. "In Côte-d'Ivoire, a reduction in rice and other cereal production is forecast as a result of unfavourable weather and conflicts that forced many farmers to leave their land."

Detailed report