Biomasse 2017 Sahel Biomass Report 19/10/201709/01/2024Significant biomass production deficits in Senegal, Mauritania, and ChadHigh probability of abnormal transhumant movements leading to agro-pastoral conflictsHigh probability of the early onset of the pastoral lean season. Pockets of biomass production deficits in Niger (Dosso, Tahoua, Diffa) and Mali (departments of Goundam, Tombouctou, Niono, Ansongo)Extreme vulnerability of biomass production (negative short-term trends) in the Sahel regionHigh deficits in surface water in Senegal and MauritaniaThe map of biomass production anomalies in the Sahel indicates serious deficits in Mauritania, Senegal, and Chad. These areas are likely to experience forage deficits and challenging conditions for pastoralists seeking pastures and water for their herds. The limited availability of biomass and water increases the likelihood of an early, prolonged, and difficult lean season in 2018 for these areas. Herd transhumance may begin early in search of pastures and water, potentially causing tensions between agricultural and pastoral communities. Herds will likely depend on livestock feed for sustenance for a longer period than usual during the upcoming dry season. As a result, feed may be less available or more expensive.Biomass production deficits are also observed in Mali, especially south of Ansongo, which is typically a significant concentration area for herds. This could lead to irregular transhumant movements. Notable deficits are observed across the Tombouctou region and in some parts of Mopti and Ségou. In Burkina Faso, the Sahel region shows significant deficits, reflecting a multi-year trend of chronically poor production. Similarly, negative anomalies are detected in Niger in Tahoua, Maradi, and Diffa. Of concern, the northern part of Dosso exhibits a very negative anomaly despite being a zone of high biomass production. Humanitarian challenges already evident in Diffa may be exacerbated by negative biomass anomalies.RecommandationsNote: A guide has been prepared on using biomass data for planning early warnings and interventions. It is available at https://tinyurl.com/early-warning.Strengthen data collection mechanisms. Field data is essential to complement satellite data when planning an intervention. Data on pasture availability, terms of trade, water availability, bushfires, and animal diseases should be regularly collected to monitor the onset of the dry season.If regular data collection is not possible, participate in rapid participatory surveys using LEGS or PCVA methods.Closely monitor animal feed prices and plan for the distribution of feed stocks.Monitor food security and nutritional indicators in the affected areas.Initiate preparations to strengthen pastoral organizations and state technical services in the affected areas.As the lean season is likely to occur early this year, interventions should be ready before March 2018. Strengthen services providing pastoralists with information on pastures and water availability.Frequently visit the sites sigsahel.info and geosahel.info for updates.Download report here
Publications Interactive Dataset- Sahelian Biomass 08/06/201721/01/2024The ongoing droughts in the African Sahel zonehave triggered one of the longest-running crises faced by the international humanitarian community. Since the 1970s, the zone, which supports a largely agro-pastoralist population, has been in a near-continuous state of humanitarian crisis due to food insecurity caused by drought and desertification, and exacerbated (in some countries) by civil violence. The impact is uneven and shifting, so it’s critical to monitor trends like vegetation growth (including food for animals to graze on and crops that people grow) on a district-by-district basis.Read about it here See the visualisation here
Publications Lean-Season Update- April 2017 03/05/201709/01/2024Téléchargez le PDF du bulletinPerspectives de sécurité alimentaireLa campagne agricole 2016-2017 était globalement satisfaisante, avec une production céréalière supérieure à la moyenne quinquennale de 17,5%. Cependant, de légères diminutions ont été enregistrées au Libéria (-7,5%) et en Mauritanie (-1,2%). La production de tubercules a augmenté de 10% par rapport à la moyenne de cinq ans. La production hors saison et de jardinage a fonctionné de manière habituelle, soutenue par une bonne disponibilité globale de l’eau de surface pour la saison. Ces cultures vont compléter les stocks alimentaires des ménages.The pastoral situation, pasture and watering conditions of livestock are average to satisfactory despite fodder deficits registered in a large part of the Sahelian belt notably in Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Chad. Transhumance movements remain normal except in the fodder-deficit areas and conflict zones, especially in the Lake Chad basin, northern Mali and northwest Niger. The significant decrease in the terms of trade for herders is having a seriously impact on access to food for pastoral populations in Niger, Tchad and Nigeria.According to the Cadre Harmonisé analysis around 9.6 million people need humanitarian assistance, among whom 8.2 million are in crisis, 1.4 million are in emergency and 44.000 are in famine.Source: WFP/VAM 2017Market functionality is satisfactory except in the Lake Chad basin due to civil insecurity. Cereals prices have started to increase significantly in Niger, Mali and Mauritania compared to the 5 year averages. Livestock prices for cattle and small ruminants are generally decreasing in the region due to the decrease in demand from Nigeria which affects herders purchasing power. The depreciation of currencies in Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone and in Ghana, as well as the civil insecurity around the Lake Chad basin, constitute the principal factors affecting prices and flows between countries. In the East basin, this situation has caused a reversal of flows of cattle, poultry, onions and other cash crops between Nigeria and Niger.Agro-Pastoral Campaign- Niger AlertSource ACF Niger Biomass Report 2016The 2016/2017 Agro-Pastoral campaign marks a considerable deterioration from last year’s favorable situation.The onset of the dry season in Niger has been met with an acute forage deficit. Predictions made in October have been confirmed by reports from the Nigerien Ministry of Livestock, OCHA and ACF field data.The lack of available pasture land is putting significant pressure on pastoral communities and there is an urgent need for animal fodder distribution. Moreover, the strong decrease in livestock’s prices and the rise of cereals’ prices has greatly deteriorated the terms of trade for herders in already fragile areas and is causing strong concerns regarding the ability for the affected population to assure their food and nutritional security. The key areas which have been identified as the most affected are Tahoua (Tchintabaradene), Maradi (Mayahi), Zinder (Tanout).Surface Water UpdateSurface water occurrence remains normal or favorable across the Sahel. The distribution of current lakes with a surface over 1km² is above the long-term average. That said, conditions remain less favorable then last year’s agropastoral campaign.Lake Chad Basin Update Conflicts and violence have caused the displacement of more than 4.9 million people, out of which 2.4 million are in the LCB areas (source: OCHA). Despite a massive scale-up of humanitarian interventions in North-East Nigeria and the liberation of some LGAs the situation remains critical and current efforts should be maintained in order to support severely food and nutrition insecure populations.It is estimated that around 43.000 people are currently in famine and this figure will most probably increase during the lean season. According to UNICEF, 1.2 million children under 5 years will suffer from acute malnutrition in the LCB area over 2017 and more than 540.000 will need immediate treatment.Nutrition OutlookThe nutritional situation during this post-harvest period remains worrying to critical in the Lake Chad basin, thenorth of Mali and in the three northeastern Nigeria States due to the deterioration of living conditions and persistent civil insecurity.In refugee and IDP areas, as well as host communities’ areas, the situation is much more alarming with prevalence above the emergency threshold. The nutritional situation could deteriorate during the lean season in most of the Sahel countries.According to UNICEF, 8.6 million children will suffer from acute malnutrition in the Sahel in 2017 and 3.3 million from its most severe form. Currently, strong risks are seen in Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad.Recommandations for ActionFournir des aliments pour animaux immédiats aux éleveurs dans les zones de Tahoua, Maradi, Zinder au Niger.De près le cours de la fluctuation au Niger, au Mali et au Tchad et se préparer à réagir rapidement en cas de besoin.Suivre le développement du pipeline RUTF par rapport à l’admission au Niger et au Mali, où le nombre prévisionnel de cas d’enfants SAM assemble assez sous-estimé.Continuer à promouvoir les fonds pour répondre aux besoins énoncés au Nigeria du Nord-Est sur la base des engagements de la conférence d’Oslo.
Biomasse West Africa Rain Forecasts and Biomass Vulnerability: April-July 01/05/201712/11/2023ACMAD/MESA’s 2017 forecasts for the April-July period are available. As far as West Africa is concerned these are initial forecasts and cover mostly the coastal countries/ Gulf of Guinea. Significant weather incidents for the Sahelian belt are not yet detected, but more data will be available soon. This map will be updated with new data with the release of more forecasts from ACMAD. This dataset shows ACMAD/MESA’s currently available forecasts, with ACF’s Biomass Vulnerability Index. The Vulnerability Index is a recursive indicator of biomass anomalies and identifies areas with multiple years of negative biomass production. These zones, marked as “very vulnerable” or “vulnerable”, pose particular dangers for pastoral communities, whose herds can be structurally damaged by consecutive years of poor vegetation/ forage production. To note:An unfavourable precipitation during the April-July period is predicted for most Burkina Faso, North-Western Nigeria, Northern Ghana and the southern region of Niger. This will likely have negative impacts on agricultural production. A late start of rains for Burkina Faso could indicate a prolonged transhumance of pastoral herds.Unfavorable rains during this period predicted for much of Senegal, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra LeoneIf this trend continues during the rest of the rainy season, highly probable that these areas will have poor agricultural yieldsPastoral impacts could include: less availability of agricultural residue and pasture for 2018 dry season, prolonged transhumance. Full resolution map available here
Biomass Analysis- Sahel 2013 01/11/201309/01/2024Biomass Production Analysis – Rainy Season 2013Report in English downloadable here