Famine Early Warning Systems Network

Key Messages

• Average to above-average rice harvests are continuing in the Senegal River Valley, contributing to improved availability of this key staple cereal. Opportunities for labor work with cropping and preparing the new agriculture season will provide income and food opportunities for poor households to meet their needs.

• The rains have started more than twenty days later then in an average year in the peanut producing area in the north of the country including Fatick, Kaolack, Diourbel, Kafrine, Louga and Saint Louis.  The expected harvests could be lower than anticipated despite large scale efforts of the government to increase agriculture production levels.

• The supply of food commodities is sufficient in markets across the country despite the normal seasonal decline in stocks. This availability of food stocks is due to above-average production in the 2015 main season and in the off season rice harvests. These stock levels are contributing to near average prices that will allow most households to access markets and satisfy their food needs.

• The early lean season for poor households in the north and central parts of the country is causing them to resort to atypical livelihood strategies including labor, borrowing, reducing non-food expenditures and choosing less expensive foods. Consequently, poor households in these regions will remain in Stressed (IPC Phase 2) acute food insecurity from July until October, when new harvests are available.