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Food Security and Humanitarian Implications in West Africa and the Sahel. N°58 - July/August 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 areas experiencing a late start of agropastoral campaign, benefitted from a resumption of rainfall since the end of July. However, the Atlantic coast from (i) southern Mauritania to Guinée-Bissau, (ii) northeastern Niger and (iii) northern Ghana, Nigeria and Togo recorded rainfall deficits affecting negatively the agricultural activities. The late start of the rainy season in certain areas (Chad, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal) has extended the agricultural lean season, forcing vulnerable hou seholds to adopt irreversible coping mechanisms if they don’t have access to food assistance. Pastoralists households are already facing the effects of a prolonged lean season. Livestock presents a poor body condition and in some countries of the region loss of animals have been reported (Mali, Niger and Senegal). During the lean season, localized prices increases for millet and sorghum have been observed in Burkina and in Senegal and for millet in Mali. In the eastern commercial basin, price in creases are found in the insecure zones of northern Nigeria as well as in the displaced population sites in southern Chad and in Niger. However, food products availability remains satisfactory and allows a general stability of monthly prices of coarse grains in most of West African markets. In the three West African commercial basins, the commercial flows of agricultural products are in seasonal decrease between June and July 2014 for all cereals, except for millet. Generally, the level of suppl y in local markets remains satisfying in the sub-region, except in conflict-affected areas of northern Mali, of northeastern Nigeria, of C.A.R. and in the neighboring areas. The cross-border trade of countries affected by Ebola in the western commercial basin seems to be affected, as well as trade within the affected countries following quarantine measures taken in some districts. These disturbances have negative socio-economic consequences that might affect the food security of households. As f or now, markets in Nigeria have yet to seem affected by the Ebola outbreak, but the situation is being closely monitored.

Language English

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