Households from Lake Faguibine and Gourma resort to atypical coping strategies

Poor households from Lake Faguibine and Gourma in Timbuktu and Gao have had difficulty accessing markets and have resorted to atypical coping strategies including borrowing and changing eating habits.This is due to below-average cereal production and livestock incomes in 2015 when there were weak floods and high cattle mortality. These households are consequently in Stressed (IPC Phase 2) acute food insecurity.

The agricultural lean season is underway and began normally across the country for most households thanks to average to above-average market access which has allowed most households to remain in Minimal (IPC Phase 1) acute food insecurity.

Normal and above-average rainfall up to July 10th (NOAA) has allowed for the continuation of crop planting across the country. Agricultural labor work is creating food and income opportunities for poor households.The improvement of livestock conditions across the country has ended the animal lean season and has increased animal production to normal levels across the country.

The market supply of food remains sufficient in this lean season period on all markets across the country. This is particularly true for rice, for which off-season production is continuing. The price of millet, the main staple cereal, is stable or below the five year average which is allowing the majority of households to access markets.