Drought in the Sudano-Sahelian zone, 1973

Abstract

In the second half of 1972, the FAO/WFP Early Warning System gave intimations of critical crop failure and exceptionally poor harvests in the countries of the Sudano-Sahelian zone, due to the cumulative effect of several years of severe drought. Late in 1972, the UNDP Resident Representative in Upper Volta drew the attention of FAQ to the drastic situation prevailing in the area and indicated that it was fast approaching disaster proportions. In January1973, at the request of the Liptako-Gourma Authority, specialists from the Accra FAO Regional Office carried out an emergency mission to assess the extent of damage to livestock in three of the drought-stricken countries, namely Mali, Niger and Upper Volta.