• The 2008 growing season in the north ended during the first dekad of October, following a cessation of rainfall by mid-October. The extension of rains into October in the north enabled crops to reach maturity, includ ... more
  • The 2008 growing season in the north ended during the first dekad of October, following a cessation of rainfall by mid-October. The extension of rains into October in the north enabled crops to reach maturity, including those planted late, in June and July, and pasture, browse and water conditions are good in pastoral areas. In the south, harvests of major crops are near completion, with full harvests nationwide expected in mid-November. A joint post-harvest assessment mission conducted by CILSS/FAO/FEWS NET in October revealed that cereal, tuber, and cash crop production is expected to be above average.
  • Market supplies are gradually improving following the arrival of newly harvested crops, and food prices are showing a normal seasonal decrease nationwide. While current prices for major food commodities are generally higher than last year and the five-year average at the same time, a sharper decline in prices is expected with the full harvest in November.
  • Urban and rural household food security conditions have significantly improved when compared to the previous months and to last year at the same time period, given the increased food availability and lower food prices. Agricultural and pastoral households are replenishing their food stocks. In localized areas of the country, however, including Oyo State and in some northern states, production might not meet basic food requirements and poor households might face food shortages before the next hunger season begins, in mid-April in the North and in May/June 2009 in the South.
  • Given good production prospects, the Nigerian Government should consider buying excess production and reinforcing state and federal food reserves to allow for market stabilization measures to better mitigate food insecurity when prices are very high. Ideally, these actions would take place between mid-November 2008 and mid-January 2009, when grains prices are expected to fall to their lowest levels.

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