Staple food prices continue to rise amid the record increase in fuel prices

The 2022 seasonal agroclimatic forecasts made by the Agence Nationale de la Météorologie (ANAM) in May 2022 show abundant rainfall forecasts with dry sequences at the beginning and end of the rainy season and medium to short sequences depending on the area. In addition, rainfall will have a normal to early onset and a normal to late onset throughout the country. However, despite this generally favorable forecast, the 2022-2023 agricultural season remains a cause for concern due to the very high risk of non-availability of industrial fertilizer (NPK and urea) in sufficient quantities and on time, as a result of the impact of the crisis in Ukraine.

On the security front, jihadist attacks continue to target civilians. These attacks, which have spread to several localities in the Sahel, the North, the North-Central, the East, and the Boucle du Mouhoun, have increased the loss of human life, particularly among the Defense and Security Forces (FDS) and their auxiliary forces (VDP), and have caused numerous internal displacements (IDPs), estimated at more than 1.85 million by the end of March 2022. Several roads are also cut off, including the Kaya-Dori, Kongoussi-Djibo (in the north-central and Sahel regions), Dédougou-Nouna (Mouhoun loop), and Fada-Pama in the east. These blockades further isolates the rural communities in these areas and disrupts typical livelihood activities.

The prices of basic products continue to rise, such as fuel, whose price per liter at the pump has increased by 100 CFA francs since May 11, 2022. The same is true for transport, where the price of a ticket has risen by up to 1,000 CFA francs for some journeys.  As for the price of bread, the actors in the field (bakers) have decided to increase the price of a 200g baguette from 150 CFA francs to 200 CFA francs, against the approval of the government.

Continued insecurity, which is causing numerous population displacements and the isolation of several regions, preventing them from having a consistent supply of food, is driving acute food insecurity in the country. This is exacerbated by generalized price increases linked to the conflict in the Sahel and the crisis in Ukraine. The North, Sahel, and East regions (Komandjari and Gourma provinces) are facing Crisis (IPC Phase 3), while the Oudalan province is facing Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes.