The atypical increase in food prices compromises poor household food access

Households in agricultural areas are accessing their current harvests and experiencing Minimal (IPC Phase 1) food insecurity. However, in urban areas and the Centre-North agropastoral zone, atypically high food prices  limit households' food access, resulting in Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes until May.

The good cereal production of the current cropping season offers good food prospects for households in agricultural and agro-pastoral areas. Yet, the market supply of local cereals, sorghum, and millet is significantly lower than in a typical year at the same period due to the low flow of traditional cereals from Mali and Senegal. However, the rice, wheat and oil supply are regular and sufficient across the country.

Staple food prices remain high compared to last year’s levels and the five-year average, negatively impacting access to food for poor households in urban centers that acquire food exclusively from the market. These atypical price levels are more pronounced for imported products, particularly wheat, affected by the sharp rises in world prices for raw materials and hydrocarbons. In the country’s interior, although the harvests favor a seasonal fall in local cereals (millet, sorghum), prices remain above average due to the weak flows from Mali.

The relatively low livestock supply in urban markets is a normal seasonal phenomenon. However, livestock prices in rural markets are higher than average due to good pastoral and body conditions. Nonetheless, terms of trade for sheep/wheat remain unfavorable to breeders because of the high prices of imported food products, such as wheat.