EARLY WARNING BULLETIN FOR FOOD SECURITY
No. 2015/03
Government
The Gambia
of
IN THE GAMBIA
Period: May 21 - 31, 2015
Produced and Published by The Gambia National
Multidisciplinary Working Group
Focal Point: Department of Water Resources
TEL: (+220) 4227631 / 4224122 / 8905229 - FAX:
(+220) 422 50 09
E-MAIL: dwr@mofwrnam.gov.gm
WEB: www.mofwrnam.gov.gm
1.0 METEOROLOGICAL SITUATION
The average surface position of the ITD (imaginary line separating warm humid winds from the southwest from cold dry winds from the north) was on average positioned below the Gambia over southern
Senegal, and oscillated over southern Mali and northern Burkina Faso onto southern Niger. This shows
that rain bearing winds are yet to reach the Gambia hence no rainfall was recorded.
Dry and stable atmosphere prevailed to the north of the ITD with dust haze patches observed mostly
over Mauritania. Conversely, convective cloud developments prevailed to the south of the ITD
especially over Ivory Coast and Ghana.
1.1 WEATHER SUMMARY FOR THE GAMBIA
Variably cloudy atmosphere prevailed in the mornings with partly cloudy and very warm atmosphere
in the afternoons.
1.2 OUTLOOK FOR THE NEXT DEKAD
Variably cloudy atmosphere will prevail in the mornings with partly cloudy and very warm atmosphere
in the afternoons.
2.0 AGROMETEOROLOGICAL SITUATION
2.1 RAINFALL SITUATION
Up to this dekad no rainfall was recorded in any station, however, this situation is different from that of
last year 2014 when significant rainfalls were recorded in some stations especially in the Eastern Third
of the country.
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2.2 Temperature
Average temperatures across the country varied between 29oC in the Western Third and 33oC in the
Middle and Eastern Thirds of the country respectively.
Lowest minimum temperatures vary between 20°C and 21°C in the Western Third, and 21°C and 24°C
in the rest of the country.Hghest maximum temperatures varied between 35°C and 40°C in the Western
Third and between 42°C and 43°C in the Middle and Eastern Thirds of the country respectively.
2.3 Winds
Winds were generally light to moderate in speed across the country.
2.4 Sunshine Duration
During this dekad, Sunshine duration on average was above 8 hours countrywide, except for Fatoto
which recorded an average of 6.5hours of sunlight.
2.5 Relative Humidity
Average maximum relative humidity (RH) varies between 40% and 57% across the country with the
exception of Banjul in the Western Third which recorded an average RH of 74%. Lowest minimum
RH also varied between 08% and 20% across the country except in Banjul which recorded a minimum
of 59%. This situation showed low moisture content in the atmosphere over the country.
3.0 Hydrological Situation
N/A
4.0 AGRICULTURAL SITUATION
The dominant on-field activities by farmers continued to be field clearing, acquisition and preparation
of seeds. However there are some farmers in the North Bank Region who are engaged in dry sowing of
millet and findi. Community fields in the Eastern Third (CRR North) have finished transplanting of
rice in tidal areas and crops are at panicle stages, however, rice transplanting is still ongoing in the
same Region for Vision on 2016 rice fields.
4.1 Crop Production
N/A
4.2 Crop Protection
N/A
4.3 Livestock
N/A
4.4 Fisheries
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5.0 National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA)
N/A
6.0 National Environment Agency (NEA)
N/A
7.0 Market Situation
The table below gives average price of commodities in the Greater Banjul Area and major markets
including the weekly ones in the regions.
Table: 1 Average commodity prices per KG (in Dalasis) 28/05/15
Comodities Banjul
Bakau
Serekunda Brikama
Bansang
KerrPateh Farafenni Brikamaba Sami
Basse
Soma
Average
CEREALS
Maize
25.50
23.60
23.90
23.50
25.00
12.00
15.00
15.00
18.00
13.75
17.00
19.30
Millet
22.60
24.00
23.00
23.10
N/A
13.00
13.00
15.00
18.00
13.75
15.25
18.07
Sorghum
25.70
23.40
28.00
23.30
N/A
N/A
20.00
N/A
20.00
13.75
N/A
22.02
Local Rice
26.00
28.00
30.00
30.00
30.43
N/A
30.00
28.00
N/A
N/A
27.00
28.68
Broken Rice 26.00
24.00
24.00
24.00
26.00
23.00
24.00
24.00
N/A
24.00
24.00
24.30
Long Grain Rice
30.00
28.00
30.00
28.00
N/A
26.00
26.00
28.00
N/A
30.00
30.00
28.44
Findo
98.30
97.00
100.00
N/A
N/A
85.00
N/A
88.88
90.88
98.20
94.76
36.10
99.80
VEGETABLES
Cabbage
40.10
41.40
38.48
39.70
33.00
35.00
30.00
N/A
34.68
32.44
36.21
Lettuce
21.08
18.30
N/A
N/A
30.00
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
31.57
32.12
26.61
N/A
N/A
222.41
N/A
N/A
200.00
N/A
195.85
200.00
200.00
203.00
203.54
Large pepper (Hot)
101.80
103.11
105.58
99.70
102.22
N/A
100.00
105.48
101.39
103.20
102.40
102.49
Okra
80.00
85.80
87.10
85.00
N/A
75.00
80.00
78.90
77.64
73.57
79.52
80.25
N/A
37.80
35.70
34.04
21.19
25.00
23.00
20.40
27.46
27.78
24.67
27.70
90.50
N/A
88.00
92.60
47.53
46.39
N/A
47.21
52.68
49.67
48.00
62.51
Bitter tomato 21.40
18.30
20.00
19.64
22.36
25.00
23.00
20.29
21.46
23.51
23.33
21.66
Tomato big size
3 6.60
40.00
39.00
38.10
35.68
N/A
36.00
34.00
35.91
35.34
34.67
36.53
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
15.00
N/A
36.35
32.87
30.56
33.33
29.62
Imported Onion
4 5.80
45.00
40.00
40.00
35.00
N/A
N/A
35.00
35.00
35.00
40.00
38.98
Local Onion 30.00
35.00
30.00
30.00
N/A
25.00
30.00
25.00
25.27
30.45
N/A
28.97
50.00
55.35
54.00
53.64
N/A
56.00
N/A
58.12
26.70
N/A
30.00
N/A
28.33
25.71
29.48
30.03
48.54
40.00
N/A
N/A
51.67
47.68
52.19
38.61
35.00
35.00
40.00
40.00
35.00
40.00
40.00
37.27
Hot pepper
Egg plant
Wonjo
Tomato smallN/A
size
ROOTs & TUBERS
Carrot
Cassava
Sweet Potato
Irish Potato
61.90
32.78
29.59
35.00
60.00
31.30
22.60
35.00
65.00
32.66
26.60
35.00
67.18
33.30
28.60
40.00
Fruits, Nuts and Legumes
Lemon
46.50
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
37.04
N/A
N/A
N/A
41.77
Banana
40.00
40.00
35.00
40.00
35.00
37.58
N/A
40.00
35.00
35.00
38.96
37.65
Decorticated G/Nut
42.30
43.80
41.70
39.90
30.00
30.00
N/A
27.14
30.68
25.33
28.42
33.93
Undecorticated N/A
G/nut
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
20.00
N/A
30.61
N/A
N/A
N/A
25.31
45.00
40.00
40.00
45.00
40.00
N/A
40.00
32.74
34.81
35.00
39.26
Beef Meat&Bone
150.00
180.00
200.00
175.00
140.00
150.00
150.00
140.00
140.00
140.00
150.00
155.91
Beef Steak
200.00
220.00
225.00
225.00
150.00
180.00
200.00
150.00
150.00
150.00
200.00
186.36
Mutton
200.00
200.00
200.00
200.00
N/A
200.00
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
200.00
Beans
40.00
LIVESTOCK
Source: Planning Services Unit, Department of Agriculture
Early Warning Bulletin for Food Security in The Gambia
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Banjul June 02, 2015
National MWG of The Gambia
Composition of MWG:
Direct your comments and questions to:
Department of Water Resources
The Director
Planning Services - Department of Agriculture
Department of Water Resources
(DOA)
7 Marina Parade, Banjul
Communication, Extension & Education Services The Gambia
DOA
Tel: (+ 220) 422 76 31 / 422 41 22 /
Animal Health & Production Services - DOA
890 52 29
Plant Protection Services - DOA
Email: dwr@mofwrnam.gov.gm
National Environment Agency
Early Warning Bulletin for Food Security in The Gambia
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