Prospects for off-season irrigated crops are favourable. Production of rice increased by almost 25 percent while that of coarse grains decreased. Desert Locusts have been reported in south-eastern A r in late December. They are expected to concentrate in the remaining green patches of vegetation of Tamesna and along the wadis and in the cultivated areas in the A r Mountains. The overall food supply situation remains satisfactory.
Markets are well supplied and prices of cereals are low.
However, they surprisingly started to increase in December. The National Early Warning System estimated that no emergency assistance is needed. However, some areas in the arrondissements of Bilma, Diffa and Guidan Roundji may be somewhat vulnerable. Seasonably dry conditions prevail. Planting of the first maize crop is expected to start in March in the south.