Rising security incidents and prices limit household food access

Niger continues to face prevalent insecurity in the extreme west, south-east and south-central parts of the country. The escalation of insecurity is particularly marked in the extreme west, notably in the Tillabéry region, which recorded 136 cases of security incidents from January to May 16, 2022, compared with 93 cases during the same period in 2021, according to OCHA.  During this same period from January to May 16, 2022, security incidents caused 54,588 new displaced persons, according to OCHA, while from the start of the security crisis to May 16, 2022, the region had a total of 115,150 internally displaced persons, according to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Action. 

The rainfed agricultural season is gradually taking hold, with useful rains enabling partial planting in the Maradi, Zinder, Dosso and Tillabéry regions. The Nigerien government and its partners have supported vulnerable households with emergency seeds. The irrigated crop season continues, with progress dominated by ongoing harvests of lettuce, cabbage, watermelon, tomato, potato, onion and rice. 

Food prices continue the upward trend that began in December 2021, reaching levels in excess of 25 to 30 percent, well above the five-year average. However, prices in excess of 40 to 60 percent above the five-year average have been recorded in the markets of Abala, Ayorou, Téra, Gotheye and Torodi, the areas most affected by the escalating security incidents. Prices of foodstuffs imported from the international market, notably vegetable oil, dairy products, wheat and wheat by-products, have also risen across the board, by 50 percent or more, following the decline in their availability as a result of the Ukrainian crisis, which is disrupting the functioning of international trade circuits. 

In pastoral areas, the situation is marked by the depletion of forage stocks and growing expenditure by livestock-raising households, dominated by expenditure on animal maintenance, following feed prices reaching levels unseen in the last 10 years. However, the animals' stature is average, as is their market value, thanks to sustained demand for fattening in the run-up to the Tabaski holiday. The terms of trade for goats/millet are favorable, with an average ratio of 1 goat for 1.5 bags of millet. 

Widespread Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes are expected, with Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes prevalent in the Tillabéry region and northern Tahoua. Sufficient food assistance provided on a monthly basis in the Diffa region and southern Maradi affected by insecurity allows them to remain face Stress! (IPC Phase 2 !).