Insecurity continues to disrupt food security and livelihoods

The security situation continues to deteriorate and drive increased displacement in the Diffa, Tillabéry, and Tahoa regions. Insecurity is driving the loss of livelihoods and the reduction of access to food sources, resulting in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) level food insecurity, particularly in the agropastoral region of Tillabéry, where conflict prevents access to humanitarian food assistance.

The supply of cereals on the markets is stable and favors local and commercial producers. The supply of livestock is below last year’s levels. In most markets, prices are above the five-year average for both cereals and livestock, which reduces the purchasing power for staple goods for poor pastoral and agropastoral households.

Throughout most of the country, the majority of agricultural and agropastoral households are in Minimal (IPC Phase 1) acute food insecurity thanks to the average cereal crop production and sufficient carry-over stocks, to which average off-season vegetable production has ensured sufficient coverage of food needs. The income from the sale of cash crops and vegetables, as well as opportunities for agricultural labor, provide additional resources to cover non-food expenses. However, in the pastoral zones of Diffa, Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoa, the fodder deficit is causing body conditions of livestock to degrade atypically early which negatively affects their market value and reduces their terms of trade. Pastoral households will continue to atypically sell off livestock in order to access food and will face Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes.

As of March 25th, 7 cases of COVID-19 had been recorded in Niger. Following the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic, official preventative measures implemented by the government include the closure of the borders to travelers and restrictions on the movement of populations. To date, there have not been significant changes observed to poor households’ access to food and income sources. FEWS NET continues to monitor the situation closely, including whether possible future restrictions on the flow of people and goods could reduce food availability and raise prices.