Food security stable due to ongoing harvest of rainfed crops

Harvests of rainfed crops are currently underway in most agricultural zones, and certain deficit production areas such as Moyen Chari, Mayo Kebbi, and Sila will benefit from flood-recession harvests. National production is slightly above average and will generally result in stable food security through December 2014.  

In agro-pastoral areas, improvements in pastoral and livestock body conditions will continue. With coming year-end holidays (December 25 and 31), prices and demand for small ruminants will increase, improving household income and supporting Minimal (IPC Phase 1) acute food insecurity. 

In southern cereal and cash cropping areas, staple food harvests are underway, and improving household food stocks and consumption. Labor demand is higher than in a normal year, improving income and purchasing power for poor and very poor households. 

Despite improved food security across all livelihood zones, with Minimal (IPC Phase 1) in all areas, certain households in Kanem, BEG, and Guera will face reduced household stocks starting in January and will face Stress (IPC Phase 2) outcomes through at least March 2015. 

Cereal prices have begun to decrease in most markets due to the new harvests. Certain households are selling their harvests in order to hire agricultural labor and/or purchase clothes for year-end celebrations. As a result, agricultural labor income and food access are expected to increase.  Prices will likely start increasing in January/February as stocks become exhausted in certain deficit production areas. 

For more detailed analysis, see the Food Security Outlook Update for November 2014.