Overall yield prospects for sorghum and millet are good in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Guinea, Mali and Nigeria, where outputs of +2% to +7% above the 5 yr average are anticipated.
However there are local differences within these countries. In Chad, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast and Togo, the overall yield prospects are also positive with an estimated surplus of about +4% relative to the 5 yr mean. In Sierra Leone and Liberia, crop yield prospects are close to average (0%-1%), but somewhat less (-1 and -3%) than 2007 yields
In Burkina Faso, water availability for the crops was very good in north-eastern provinces like Ganzourgou and Gnagna, parts of Sourou, Yatenga, Soum and Oudalan at the border with Mali have a drier than normal season. Also Poni, and some parts of Comoe have a drier than normal growing season.
In the neighboring Upper West province of Ghana, yield prospects are good in the northern part but low in the southern part. In Northern province, prospects are generally good, except for the southeastern part where lower than normal yields are expected.
In Guinea, overall production will be very good in Labe. In Kankan, the output is beneficial in a large part in the west but decreased output is seen in small areas in the north, southeast and the centre. In Kindia province, the water availability is good in the north but below average in the south.
In Ivory Coast, prospects are above average at provincial level in Katiola, Korhogo and Mankono, other parts of the country show minor (-0.5%) yield decreases. In the main growing areas of Bouna increases of 4.5% are expected.
In Mali, very good yields are expected at the northern border of the growing areas in Kayes, \ with surpluses of 15% in some parts while in the south prospects are less favourable. Especially the north-west of Koulikoro is dryer than before, while in the south and central part the water availability is better than the 5 years average and better than the previous year. In Kayes, the northeastern part experiences dryer conditions than normal but the situation is better than in 2007.
In Nigeria, well above average yields (10%) are expected in northern parts of the country, in Taraba, Kebbi and the south of Adamwara province. The centre of Niger province shows minor yield decreases while in other parts above average yields are expected. Reduced crop yields are seen in the east of Kano, the south of Yobe, the west of Benue and the north of Adamware. Declined production is also noted in the Delta province, Anambra and Rivers.
EARS