Famine Early Warning Systems Network

Agricultural situation: In the Sudanian zone, transplanting of flood-recession sorghum is ongoing, but not all areas have been transplanted due to the delayed recession of water from flooded areas. In the Sahelian zone, transplanting of berberé is ongoing in the departments of Fitri and Bahr Azoum. Market gardening is expanding in production areas, the sizes of which are increasing due to heavy rains in October, producers’ enthusiasm and an increase in the number of farmers, especially for onions and garlic.

Pastoral situation: There is satisfactory availability of pasture and drinking water, and livestock farmers are gradually rebuilding stocks of hay for cattle feed. Dairy products are abundant and accessible to poor and very poor households. However, pasture is seeing early quantitative and qualitative deterioration, as a result of the flooding which caused significant decay of biomass. As a result, affluent pastoral farmers are purchasing red sorghum to supplement feed for lactating females and beasts of burden.

Agricultural labor: Currently, the agricultural labor force for market gardening mainly comprises family and/or community members. In rice-growing areas, paid labor is in short supply due to the onerous tasks involved. In the Ouaddai region, there is a good supply for intensive market gardening activities in most locations, especially Abeche (Bithea), although the daily wage remains below average due to low demand in this period.

Household cereal stocks: Stocks are being replenished. Harvest stock is at a normal level in the central Sahel, but households are beginning to sell some of it to cover needs for the end-of-year celebrations. Stocks are also being built up in some rice-growing areas, but this will be limited due to excess water. In the western Sahel, stock levels are lower than in a normal year due to poor harvests. 

Markets and prices: Cereal markets are well supplied in this post-harvest period (except in western Sahel) thanks to good crop production, and cereal prices (millet, sorghum) are lower than the five-year average and the same period last year. The price of sesame is beginning to rise due to strong demand from local and foreign traders. In the western Sahel, the low quantity of cereal products on markets is resulting in an increase in prices compared to the same period in a normal year. There is a moderate increase in maize prices.

Current food situation: In this post-harvest period, most households are consuming products from their own harvests and their food consumption has significantly improved. Around Lake Chad, internally displaced persons (IDPs) are developing coping strategies (meal sharing with host households) and are having difficulties accessing basic non-food needs. Humanitarian assistance keeps them in Stressed (IPC Phase 2!) food insecurity. In Tibesti, border closures and the state of emergency are disrupting the functioning of the markets on which households depend. Poor households are having difficulty covering basic non-food expenditure and the zone is Stressed (IPC Phase 2).