Reduced supplies of staple foods continue to limit market access for poor households in the Sahel

The drop in volume of incoming flows of food products from Libya due to the war in Ukraine, coupled with the insecurity and disruptions on the roads, continues to increase demand of local cereals, particularly in the Sahel. In January 2023, millet prices were 36 to 45 percent above average as a result of strong demand and reduced supply due to localized below average production of rainfed crops in the southern provinces and high production and transport costs.

In most agropastoral and transhumance areas of the country, a slight improvement in the functioning of livestock markets is observed through the increased presence of intermediaries, exporters and collectors making significant purchases of animals. Reinforced by the good body condition of the animals, favored by the good pastoral conditions, this increase in demand has led to an increase in prices on livestock markets compared to the five-year average. For example, despite the depreciation of the Nigerian naira, sheep prices are up 45 percent in Mao following exports to Nigeria. Consequently, a slight improvement in income for poor households, albeit modest, is observed in the localities concerned. 

Thanks to the good level of humidity, the off-season is proceeding normally in certain areas such as Salamat, Guéra and Dar Sila, where slight extensions of surface area planted have been reported, despite reduced access to inputs due to the erosion of income and low availability of seeds. On the other hand, the late recession of flood waters affects the normal course of the cycle of the off-season in  Lac and Mayo Kebbi. In BEG, humanitarian assistance is supporting market gardening activities. Harvest estimates are near-average in Guéra and Salamat while in the other areas they are be slightly below average due to the late retreat of the waters.

In Lac, the food consumption of displaced and host households continues to be affected by civil insecurity. However, they are facing Stress! (IPC Phase 2!) outcomes thanks to humanitarian assistance coupled with new rainfed crops and harvested products. As a result of production declines in the Sudanian zone, disruptions in the flow of imported and manufactured goods, and upward trends compared to the five-year average of prices on cereal markets in agropastoral areas, households in BEG and Kanem have reduced food consumption. They are in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) due to the erosion of most of their incomes, which limits their access to food on the markets. Households in Mandoul, Eastern Logone, and Moyen Chari provinces are in Minimal (IPC Phase 1) due to households' sufficient access to grain stocks coupled with income from the sale of cash crops.