Close to average cereal prices favor household food access

Overall cereal production in the country is 35 percent higher than average despite production losses from flooding and the early stop of rains particularly in the Niger delta and parts of the western Sahel. Additionally average to above average harvests, market gardening products from January to March and rice crops expected in June will improve incomes and the availability of food in the country. 

Average access of agropastoral households across the country has improved with the availability of their own harvests, in-kind remuneration, above average terms of trade for livestock/cereal and lower or close to average prices for cereals. As a result, the majority of households will maintain Minimal (IPC Phase 1) food insecurity from January to March.

Early depletion of stocks due to the decline in rice production by 30 to 60 percent compared to the average in parts of the Niger Delta in the Mopti, Timbuktu, and Gao regions increases poor households’ dependence on markets. The atypical intensification of labor activities, the reduction in non-food and food expenditure will put poor households in Stress (IPC Phase 2) food insecurity as of March.