Western Africa: Sorghum Difference Yield (as of 30 Sep 2009)

Following the alarming food security warning from Niger on 29 January 2010 (see message below) we have reviewed our FAST crop yield estimate for the 2009 growing season for West Africa. Please find below our Sorghum difference yield map, averaged by province. It is based on hourly Meteosat data of the whole 2009 growing season and the previous 5 year. These data have been processed to daily temperature, radiation and evapotranspiration, which then feed a crop growth model. The map confirms the recent warning for hunger from Niger. In (large parts of) Mali, Burkina, Niger and Chad the 2009 sorghum/millet production is estimated to be some 10% below the 5 year average.