The first harvests are underway, enabling households to consume own-produced food

Thanks to a significant improvement in rainfall, existing crops are showing good vegetative growth, with cereals and cash crops showing signs of maturity. However, in certain localized agricultural and agro-pastoral zones, such as Ouallam, Ayorou, Tillabéry, Abala, Gotheye, Téra, Filingué and Banibangou (Tillabéri), Abalak, Tchintabaraden and Tahoua (Tahoua), Bosso and Nguigmi (Diffa), late planting, dry sequences and, in some cases, reduced acreage due to conflict and insecurity, have significantly impacted crop production potential. This situation will lead to a drop in production and is already contributing to limiting food access for households whose food insecurity is in Stress (IPC Phase 2) in the Téra, Filingué, Gotheye, Tillabéry and Tahoua zones, and in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) in the Ouallam, Ayorou, Abala and Banibangou departments.

Grazing and watering conditions have improved significantly since mid-July. This is reflected in the good body condition of the animals, whose market value is comparable to its average in September, enabling livestock-raising households to benefit from favorable livestock/consumer goods terms of trade. In these areas, the situation is characterized by minimal food insecurity (IPC Phase 1) until December 2021 and January 2022.

Markets for agricultural and livestock products are gradually returning to their usual seasonal patterns, with the current harvest increasing the availability of new cereal and cash products for households, and reducing their dependence on the market for food consumption. However, the market situation is still marked by millet, maize and sorghum prices 15 to 35% higher than the five-year average, especially on the main supply markets such as Maradi and Zinder. In areas where harvests have not yet begun, food access is still reduced for poor households experiencing Stressed (IPC Phase 2) in September 2021.

Conflict and insecurity persist in the regions of Diffa, Tillabéry, northern Tahoua and southwestern Maradi, where the effects are reflected in population displacements, disruption of agricultural and pastoral activities and markets. In addition to disrupting people's livelihoods, conflict and insecurity are reducing humanitarian space and access to populations in the affected areas of Tillabéry and Tahoua, where Crisis (IPC Phase 3) continues to prevail. Conversely, food insecurity is at Stress! (IPC Phase 2 !) in Diffa and the affected part of Maradi, thanks to the existence of humanitarian corridors providing access to households in need for the distribution of humanitarian aid.