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Burundi

Presence country
Burundi
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Food Security Outlook
February - September 2024
Average Season A and Season B harvests increase food access through September 2024
  • Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes are expected in the Northern Lowlands, Eastern Lowlands, and Eastern Dry Plateaus livelihood zones, driven by average 2024 Season A crop production and improved agricultural labor opportunities that will likely improve access to food and income through May 2024. This situation is likely to continue from June to September 2024, supported by near-average Season B crop production. However, increased food prices and below-average cross-border income-earning opportunities are likely to limit very poor households from accessing sufficient food and income sources.
  • As of January, food prices have stabilized compared to last year due to the average 2024 Season A green harvest, though prices remain 30 to 45 percent above the five-year average. High food prices are attributed to the increased cost of imported food due to elevated national inflation, increased expenses for agricultural inputs, and elevated fuel and transportation costs. Producer prices of maize have been fixed by the government at a minimum of 1,700 BIF/kg, which is around 150 percent above the price in 2021. While the higher maize prices have the positive impact of encouraging middle and better-off households to invest in agriculture and crop production, they are likely to limit access for poor and very poor households that rely on market purchases for food during the lean period of April and May 2024.
  • The 2024 Season B cultivation is expected to start on time in February, as above-average rainfall and increased availability of fertilizers, subsidized at 60 percent by the government, are expected to encourage farmers to invest in the season. However, high bean prices are expected to limit access to bean seeds, and the expected above-average rainfall is likely to negatively affect bean crops, which are vulnerable to excessive rainfall.
  • Although inflation has decreased to 10 percent below last month’s level, the trade deficit, external debt, and loans to the private sector increased more than 30 percent above last year’s level, while foreign exchange reserves are 5 percent below last year and 10 percent below the four-year average and expected to cover less than one month’s import needs. Those macroeconomic indicators at critical levels are likely to lead to instability of the Burundi Franc (BIF), with an increased official exchange rate 70 percent lower than the parallel market and 20 percent above the average of the fourth quarter of 2023, driving low import capacity and increasing the price of imported items, including fuel and food. 
  • Due to funding shortfalls, approximately 56,000 refugees and asylum seekers are receiving about 75 percent of their usual food ration. This shortage in food assistance is likely to contribute to Stressed! (IPC Phase 2!) outcomes among these households. Funding shortfalls are likely to persist through September 2024, forcing WFP to further reduce the size of rations. Around 10,500 people who returned after the start of the 2024 Season A in August and exhausted their food assistance return package are experiencing Stressed (IPC Phase 2) acute food insecurity outcomes that are likely to persist until the Season B harvest period in June 2024. 
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Latest Analysis Latest Analysis
View all Burundi Analysis
Food Security
Key Message Update Average Season A harvest stabilizes food prices and enhances food access Burundi January 2024
Food Security Outlook Update Above-average Season C harvest enhances food availability in the north Burundi December 2023
Key Message Update Above-average 2023 Season C harvest increases access to food in the lean season Burundi November 2023
Agroclimatology
No reports available.
Markets & Trade
Cross Border Trade Report East Africa Cross Border Trade East Africa January 2024
Cross Border Trade Report East Africa Cross Border Trade East Africa October 2023
Alerts / Special Reports
No reports available.
Food Security
Key Message Update Average Season A harvest stabilizes food prices and enhances food access Burundi January 2024
Food Security Outlook Update Above-average Season C harvest enhances food availability in the north Burundi December 2023
Key Message Update Above-average 2023 Season C harvest increases access to food in the lean season Burundi November 2023
Agroclimatology
No reports available.
Markets & Trade
Cross Border Trade Report East Africa Cross Border Trade East Africa January 2024
Cross Border Trade Report East Africa Cross Border Trade East Africa October 2023
Alerts / Special Reports
No reports available.
Food Security Classification Data View all Burundi classification data
Burundi Acute Food Insecurity Classification (February 2024 - September 2024)

Current (February 2024) food security outcomes and forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (February 2024 - May 2024) and medium term (June 2024 - September 2024) periods.

Burundi Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile February 2024 (.zip) (ZIP) Burundi Acute Food Insecurity Classification February 2024 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Current Situation: February 2024 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: February 2024 - May 2024 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: June 2024 - September 2024 (.png) (PNG) Current Situation: February 2024 (.kml) (KML) Near Term Projection: February 2024 - May 2024 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: June 2024 - September 2024 (.kml) (KML)
Burundi Acute Food Insecurity Classification (May 2023 - September 2023)

Forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (May 2023) and medium term (June 2023 - September 2023) periods.

Burundi Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile May 2023 (.zip) (ZIP) Burundi Acute Food Insecurity Classification May 2023 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Near Term Projection: May 2023 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: June 2023 - September 2023 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: May 2023 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: June 2023 - September 2023 (.kml) (KML)
Burundi Acute Food Insecurity Classification (April 2023 - September 2023)

Forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (April 2023 - May 2023) and medium term (June 2023 - September 2023) periods.

Burundi Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile April 2023 (.zip) (ZIP) Burundi Acute Food Insecurity Classification April 2023 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Near Term Projection: April 2023 - May 2023 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: June 2023 - September 2023 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: April 2023 - May 2023 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: June 2023 - September 2023 (.kml) (KML)
Seasonal Calendar Seasonal Calendar
Description

The Seasonal Calendar shows the annual and cyclical patterns of key food and income sources in a country throughout the typical year.

Burundi Seasonal Calendar, showing rain, lean, harvest and land prep seasons
Production & Trade Flow Maps
FEWS NET captures the market networks for a product in a given country or region, including their catchments and trade flow patterns.
Maize, Normal Year Banana, Normal Year Beans, Normal Year Cassava, Normal Year Rice, Normal Year Sweet Potatoes, Normal Year
Remote Sensing Imagery Remote Sensing Imagery
Description

USGS-provided data and imagery supports FEWS NET's monitoring efforts of weather and climate throughout the world.

View all remote sensing imagery
Livelihood Zone Resources Livelihood Zone Resources
Burundi Livelihood Zone Descriptions, February 2021 Burundi Livelihood Zone Descriptions, November 2009 Burundi Livelihood Zone Map
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