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Food Security and Humanitarian Implications in West Africa and the Sahel. N°56 - May 2014

Year of publication 2014

Pages 6p.

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Journal, magazine, bulletin

Series title Food Security and Humanitarian Implications in West Africa and the Sahel

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) The 2014-2015 agricultural campaign has started in the region accompanied by heavy rains in the countries of the Gulf of Guinea and a calm desert locust situation. The precipitation deficit currently observed in Ghana and Nigeria should be monitored in the coming months. Concerning the Sahel countries, in addition to the zones that were affected by production deficits, the lean season has already started for the majority of rural households. Cereal prices, which are above their five-year average in the majority of the region, will likely create supply issues for poor households who will need assistance. The situation in the regions of Wadi Fira and Bahr-El-Ghazel in Chad, in the circle of Bandiagara in Mali, in Senegal, in Mauritania that experienced production deficits and in Niger where fodder deficit was registered should be monitored closely. Because of high prices, the poorest households in Ghana also face food access problem.

Language English

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    Journal, magazine, bulletin
    Food Security and Humanitarian Implications in West Africa and the Sahel. N°54 - March 2014 2014
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    The meeting of the Regional Consultation on Food and Nutritional Situation in the Sahel and West Africa (PREGEC) confirms the decrease in cereal production in the Sahel during the 2013/2014 agricultural campaign compared to last year. Significant production decreases have been recorded in several areas, notably in Chad, Mali, Niger and Senegal. Poor and very poor households living in these areas, which are also affected by the decrease in pasture production, are already facing food insecurity. T he markets will function normally until the lean season, when seasonal increases in cereal prices will be observed, especially for millet, the production of which decreased significantly (20 percent). According to the Harmonized Framework analysis, 26 zones out of 345 are identified as currently food insecure, with the situation reaching a crisis phase in Chad, Mali, Niger, Senegal and The Gambia. During the lean season (June to August 2014), an increase in the number of zones in crisis phase is expected, reaching 58 zones in total and extending to areas in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mauritania. It is crucial to address the needs of these populations under pressure and to protect their livelihoods.
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    Journal, magazine, bulletin
    Food Security and Humanitarian Implications in West Africa and the Sahel. N°57 - June 2014 2014
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    The 2014/2015 agricultural campaign is marked by a late start of the rainy season, particularly in Nigeria and in Cameroon, and by dry spells that occurred subsequent to sowing activities in localized areas in Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad. The lean season has started for most of rural households. This year is particularly difficult for households in some areas in Mauritania and Niger due to the early depletion of food stocks of households that depend on markets for their food consumption. Anothe r reason for the deterioration of the food security situation in the region is the civil unrest which still prevails in the Central African Republic, northern Nigeria and northern Mali, causing people to flee their homes and countries. In the three basins, commercial trade flows of agricultural commodities have functioned well between April and June 2014, as agricultural surpluses of the main exporting countries (Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria) reached food deficit areas in the Sahel re gion. The markets are well supplied due to destocking activities by traders, which have contributed to ease regional flows. However, price levels in May were more than 15 percent above their five year averages in northern Mali, Chad, Nouakchott in Mauritania and along the border between Niger and Nigeria. These elevated price levels will limit food access of poor and very poor households.
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    Journal, magazine, bulletin
    Food Security and Humanitarian Implications in West Africa and the Sahel. N° 60 - October/November 2014 2014
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    In the Sahel and in West Africa, the 2014-2015 agricultural campaign was characterized by a late onset and significant rainfall deficits in the western part of the Sahel (Cape Verde, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania and Senegal) and areas in Mali, Niger and Chad. Cereal production (excluding Niger and Mali) is likely experiencing an increase of 4 percent compared to last year and 8 percent compared to the five-year average. However, disparities exist between countries, particularly in weste rn Sahel where a significant production decrease, of more than 32 percent in comparison to the five-year average, is expected. Livestock body condition is generally satisfactory following the rangeland regeneration except for areas where rainfall deficits were recorded in western Mauritania, northern Senegal and areas around Lake Chad.
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