Monthly Bulletin N ° 9 of the Early Warning System

As a reminder, the 2009-2010 agricultural campaign began in an international environment marked by a financial and economic crisis. Moreover, the forecast of rainfall probabilities for the sub-region over the period July-August-September, did not reveal, unlike the forecasts for the past season, of a common nature for the entire region. Indeed, the JAS cumulative rainfall forecast for the agricultural campaign updated at the national level has configured a deficit situation with a possible chance that it tends towards a normal situation. In this unfavorable national and international context, the Government and its partners have renewed measures to support production through the distribution of improved seeds (7,263.55 tonnes) and a 50% subsidy for mineral fertilizers (18,323, 65 tonnes) especially for rice and corn. Similarly, practical advice has already been given to farmers to enable them to cope with the possible risk of a rainfall deficit.
The monitoring of the agro-pastoral campaign and the assessment of the food situation were carried out regularly through, on the one hand, the production of reports and newsletters and, on the other hand, the holding of monthly meetings organized by the System. early warning (SAP). In addition, three periodic evaluations (field missions) were made by the Multidisciplinary Working Group (GTP) and the technical and financial partners in collaboration with the decentralized and deconcentrated structures. These assessments made it possible to provide decision-makers and stakeholders in the national food security system with three reports on the establishment of the agricultural season, its mid-term development and the country’s food outlook.
The agricultural season got off to a difficult start in all parts of the country until the first decade of July. The months of July and September recorded episodes of pockets of drought which led to re-sowing (sorghum and millet), the late planting of certain crops (legumes) and disturbances on the development of plants and the herbaceous layer. . This situation resulted in a reduction in the areas sown and a drop in yields. The irregularity of the rains also slowed down the development of natural pastures resulting in poor overweight animals (especially large ruminants), especially in the Sahel region during the period.
In August, the progress of the campaign was deemed satisfactory. The continued and intensified monsoon activity in early September with localized flooding with severe consequences raised hopes for a good agricultural season. This hope was immediately dispelled with the abrupt end of the rains from the first ten days of September. Sowing operations continued in places (Yagha and Oudalan provinces) during the first ten days of August, a period from which the rains were more or less regular until the second ten days of the month. September. The weakness or even the cessation of monsoon activity from mid-September negatively influenced expected yields, especially crops in upland areas.

The Director General of Promotion
of Rural Economy (DGPER)
Souleymane OUEDRAOGO