Sahel
Good harvest around Gulf of Guinea

afrol News, 12 April - There has been a general improvement in food production in Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Cameroon, although there are local shortfalls, according to new information provided by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). 

The aggregate 2000 cereal output for the eight countries along the Gulf of Guinea (Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo) is estimated at around 27.1 million tonnes compared to 26.2 million tonnes in 1999. Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea remain heavily dependent on international food assistance due to civil war and high numbers of displaced people. Crop prospects are also generally favourable in Central African Republic and Cameroon, FAO reports. 

Côte d'Ivoire
In Côte d'Ivoire, plantings of the first maize crop is now underway in the south and progressing northwards with the arrival of the rains, according to the latest information by the UN agency. 

- Following an above-average cereal harvest in 2000, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory, FAO assesses. "However, recent civil disturbances may have affected marketing activities, exacerbating an already deteriorating economic situation." 

Côte d'Ivoire's external debt has reached about US$ 1.5 billion, while GDP declined by about 2 percent in 2000. The fall in prices of cocoa, of which Côte d'Ivoire is the leading producer in the world, has been a major contributing factor. Further, some 86,000 Liberian refugees and 1 500 Sierra Leoneans remain in the west, depending on external food aid.

Ghana
Neighbouring Ghana somewhat fall outside the generally good trends of the region. Plantings of the first maize crop reportedly is underway in the south and progressing northwards with the arrival of the rains. 

- Reflecting poor growing conditions in 2000, the food supply situation is tight in some areas, FAO concludes. The government announced it plans to halve its rice imports in 2001 in developing more than one million hectares of inland valleys for rice production. 

Togo
Also in Togo, climatically identical to Ghana, Pplantings of the first maize crop is underway in the south and will progress northwards following the arrival of the rains. 

Contrary to Ghana, however, the overall food supply situation is reported to be "satisfactory". This years' food production is close to the previous five years average production, with rice production well over average. However, people affected by floods in various areas remain vulnerable, according to FAO. 

Benin
Benin has experienced a good agricultural year. Planting of the first maize crop reportedly is underway in the south and will progress northwards following the onset of the rains. "Reflecting generally adequate growing conditions, the aggregate 2000 cereal production is estimated at 905,000 tonnes, which is slightly below last year's record but remains well above average," FAO reports.

The overall food supply situation in Benin is assesses as "satisfactory". Markets are well supplied and prices of cereals remain generally stable. Cereal imports, for domestic use and re-exports during the 2001 marketing year are estimated at 143,000 tonnes and food aid requirements at 11,000 tonnes. 

Nigeria
Also the regional super-power Nigeria has experienced a generally positive agricultural year, even if its northern, Sahelian neighbours Niger and Chad suffer from drought and shortcommings. 

Rains started in the south-east of Nigeria in early March and progressed to the south-west in mid-March, allowing land preparation and plantings of the first maize crop. "Reflecting generally favourable growing conditions during the 2000 rainy season, an average to above-average harvest is anticipated," according to FAO's conclusions.

The overall food supply situation is assesses as "satisfactory". Some population groups, however, remain vulnerable, following flooding in Sokoto in the north-west. The Sokoto state is also close to Niger and lies within the Sahelian zone of Nigeria. Nigeria does not receive food aid, according to FAO statistics.

Cameroon
Cameroon, reaching from the tropical rainforest environment in the south, to the Sahelian zone in the extreme north, also generally has experienced good harvests in all its climatic zones. While the previous five years average production of coarse grains has been 1,181,000 tonnes, the 2000/01 domestic production is expected to reach 1,211,000 tonnes. 

Rains reportedly started in the south in March this year. The overall food supply situation is assesses as "satisfactory". According to FAO, "cereal imports for domestic use and re-export during the 2001 marketing year are estimated at 300,000 tonnes (excluding wheat re-exports), mostly wheat and rice."

Sources: Based on FAO