Food Security Outlook Update

Delayed 2021 A Season harvest contributed to less severe April lean period

April 2021

April - May 2021

June - September 2021

IPC v3.0 Acute Food Insecurity Phase

1: Minimal
2: Stressed
3: Crisis
4: Emergency
5: Famine
Would likely be at least one phase worse without current or programmed humanitarian assistance
FEWS NET classification is IPC-compatible. IPC-compatible analysis follows key IPC protocols but does not necessarily reflect the consensus of national food security partners.

IPC v3.0 Acute Food Insecurity Phase

1: Minimal
2: Stressed
3: Crisis
4: Emergency
5: Famine
Would likely be at least one phase worse without current or programmed humanitarian assistance
FEWS NET classification is IPC-compatible. IPC-compatible analysis follows key IPC protocols but does not necessarily reflect the consensus of national food security partners.

IPC v3.0 Acute Food Insecurity Phase

1: Minimal
2: Stressed
3+: Crisis or higher
Would likely be at least one phase worse without
current or programmed humanitarian assistance
FEWS NET classification is IPC-compatible. IPC-compatible analysis follows key IPC protocols but does not necessarily reflect the consensus of national food security partners.
FEWS NET Remote Monitoring countries use a colored outline to represent the highest IPC classification in areas of concern.

IPC v3.0 Acute Food Insecurity Phase

Presence countries:
1: Minimal
2: Stressed
3: Crisis
4: Emergency
5: Famine
Remote monitoring
countries:
1: Minimal
2: Stressed
3+: Crisis or higher
Would likely be at least one phase worse without
current or programmed humanitarian assistance
FEWS NET Remote Monitoring countries use a colored outline to represent the highest IPC classification in areas of concern.

Key Messages

  • 2021 A Season crop production, estimated to be above average for maize, tubers, and bananas, improved rural household food access, and is supporting Minimal (IPC Phase 1) outcomes among households across most of the country. However, poor and very poor households in the Northern and Eastern Lowland livelihood zones are facing Stressed (IPC Phase 2) food security outcomes due to below-average 2021 A crop production affected by dry conditions in October and November 2020 and reduced cross-border income-earning sources, related to COVID-19.

  • USGS forecasts indicate average to above-average rainfall in late April and May. While favorable to cereals (maize, rice, and sorghum), tubers (sweet potatoes and cassava) and banana, elevated soil moisture is expected to reduce the 2021 B Season bean production to below average as the crop is particularly sensitive to moisture shocks.

  • According to the Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies of Burundi, overall annual inflation stands at 7.5 percent, largely unchanged from January 2021. The increased rate of inflation is driven by food price increases, which recorded an increase of 12.3 percent between January and March 2021. The consumer price index is 6.1 percent for the month of February 2021 against an increase of 6.5 percent in January 2021.

  • Due to the limited income earning opportunities around camps, refugees will face Stressed! (IPC Phase 2!) food security outcomes until May 2021. WFP also assisted 16,715 IDPs affected by flooding in the Imbo Plains with 360g of cereals, 120g of pulses, 25g of oil and 5g of salt per person per day, resulting in None! (IPC Phase 1!) food security outcomes for the population.

About this Update

This monthly report covers current conditions as well as changes to the projected outlook for food insecurity in this country. It updates FEWS NET’s quarterly Food Security Outlook. Learn more about our work here.

About FEWS NET

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network is a leading provider of early warning and analysis on food insecurity. Created by USAID in 1985 to help decision-makers plan for humanitarian crises, FEWS NET provides evidence-based analysis on approximately 30 countries. Implementing team members include NASA, NOAA, USDA, USGS, and CHC-UCSB, along with Chemonics International Inc. and Kimetrica.
Learn more About Us.

Link to United States Agency for International Development (USAID)Link to the United States Geological Survey's (USGS) FEWS NET Data PortalLink to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Link to National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Earth ObservatoryLink to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Weather Service, Climage Prediction CenterLink to the Climate Hazards Center - UC Santa BarbaraLink to KimetricaLink to Chemonics