Latest Headlines:

Delayed long rains in southeast Kenya raise concerns

Estimated food security conditions, 1st Quarter 2009 (January-March)

Generally Food Secure
Moderately Food Insecure
Highly Food Insecure
Extremely Food Insecure
Famine
No Data

Favorable Conditions
Somewhat Favorable Conditions
Short Term Dryness
Drought
Severe Drought
Humanitarian Concern

Extreme Event
Heavy Snow
Heavy Rain
Flooding
Blowing Dust
Extreme Cold
Extreme Heat

Geographic data are partly derived from the UN/FAO GAUL system. Read Disclaimer

West Africa

Nigeria

05/06/2009

Households across the country are generally food secure given the cumulative effects of widespread availability of agricultural products on markets and the r ... more
- Households across the country are generally food secure given the cumulative effects of widespread availability of agricultural products on markets and the recent arrival of off-season crops in many areas. A normal, progressive deterioration in food security variables associated with the hunger season, including rising food prices and low household food reserves, has been observed in the south.
- The agricultural season in the south is underway with good meteorological conditions conducive to crop development. The north is planning for the start of season. The high cost of fertilizers poses a constraint to access to seeds and fertilizers across the country. In some northern states, such as Kano, Bauchi, Zamfara, and Kaduna, the combination of high state-run input subsidies, off-season harvests, and increased opportunities for casual labor is resulting in easier household access to agricultural inputs.
- The prices of food commodities tended towards stability in March relative to February, though cereal prices remain above the nominal five-year average. In some areas of the South West such as Oyo state, the price of gari, the main staple food for poor households, is 110 percent above its five-year average. The significant rise in gari prices is due to low market and household stocks triggered by production shortages following excessive flooding in that area. These households will have to resort to market purchases of substitute staples until their harvest in October, which could make the 2009 hunger season more difficult than usual.
Nigeria Country Center
Burkina Faso | Chad | Mali | Mauritania | Niger | Regional Center

Southern Africa

Mozambique

04/28/2009

In March, moderate food insecurity was found in most of southern Tete and parts of Manica, Zambézia, and coastal Nampula provinces. Aside from these areas, ... more
- In March, moderate food insecurity was found in most of southern Tete and parts of Manica, Zambézia, and coastal Nampula provinces. Aside from these areas, the majority of households in the country have normal access to food for this time of year, despite a moderate decline in overall production due to poor distribution of rains and localized pest outbreaks.
- Most households throughout the country are likely to be generally food secure in the next three to six months, although pockets of moderate food insecurity are expected due to factors including weather shocks, high food prices, and constraints on access to food, water, and inputs.
- From April to June, despite the main harvest, poor and very poor households in northern Maputo, northern and southern Sofala, and southern Inhambane and Tete provinces are expected to remain moderately food insecure due to the effects of weather shocks and high food prices.
- From July to September, moderate food insecurity will likely extend to poor and very poor households in other districts in southern and parts of central Mozambique. Interventions addressing access to food, water, inputs, and health services may be needed towards the end of this period and until the next major harvest in March/April 2010.
Mozambique Country Center
Malawi | Zambia | Zimbabwe | Regional Center

Caribbean

Haiti

04/10/2009

Staple foods (maize, beans, rice, roots, and tubers) have been well supplied on major Haitian markets in March. Nominal food prices are stable and lower tha ... more
- Staple foods (maize, beans, rice, roots, and tubers) have been well supplied on major Haitian markets in March. Nominal food prices are stable and lower than during same period last year, and food access has improved in the first quarter of the year. Furthermore, the inflation rate has significantly decline during this period, reaching 6 percent in February, the lowest in the last ten years.
- Remittances, which mainly benefit the middle-income and wealthy households, have declined since last year. In February 2009, they totaled USD 84.2 million, against USD 89.4 million in February 2008. Remittances enable recipient households to hire laborers from the poorer households, who depend most on labor. As the current crop season gets under way, labor opportunities are improving.
- The spring season (March/April to June/July), which accounts for about half the annual domestic food production, started early in March. Cumulative rainfall so far has been below average. Rainfall is expected to generally remain below average throughout the season. This is likely to translate into below average production by end of June and could aggravate household food security in the second half of the year. The forecast for the coming cyclone season (June-November) suggests that this year’s activity will be about normal.
- In the most likely scenario developed in the January-June 2009 Food Security Outlook, FEWS NET and CNSA projected that the food insecurity population would decline from about 3.1 million to 2.8 million. By the end of March, the improvement in food security seems to have been better than expected.
Haiti Country Center

East Africa

Djibouti

04/20/2009

The food security situation in the Northwest will depend on the performance of the Diraa/Sougoum (March to May) season, for which the forecast is currently m ... more
- The food security situation in the Northwest will depend on the performance of the Diraa/Sougoum (March to May) season, for which the forecast is currently mixed. If good rainfall occurs, animal body conditions will improve, increasing food security. Informal cereal trade will increase due to export ban of neighboring Ethiopia. Prices of staple foods are likely to decline as a consequence.
- Food security in urban areas is expected to improve due to the start of WFP Food-for-Work programs by late April covering the city of Djibouti. This will improve poor household’s food access, helping to lower acute malnutrition rates among children under five years of age. The Food-for-Work program will also offset the coming hunger season (June-July). The informal cereal trade is increasing and the inflows of cereals will improve market supply reducing the prices as a consequence.
- Large scale WFP food aid distribution across the country’s rural areas is continuing. This assistance is improving food security and mitigating the impacts of consecutive poor seasons on pastoral households.
Djibouti Country Center
Ethiopia | Kenya | Somalia | Sudan | Tanzania | Uganda | Regional Center

Central America

Guatemala

04/29/2009

Food security in different regions of the country is stable, although it could begin to deteriorate during the next three months, due to the beginning of the ... more
- Food security in different regions of the country is stable, although it could begin to deteriorate during the next three months, due to the beginning of the annual hunger period. During that time, the poorest households will depend entirely on the purchase of food, after their reserves have been exhausted. The government is in the process of activating a contingency plan to address the situation.
- The beginning of the rainy season, which accompanies the primera planting, is expected to begin in the second half of April until the end of May, depending on the zone. This beginning could be irregular in the boca costa and the southwest.
- The climatic perspective for May-July predicts cumulative rains above normal in the north. Rains well above normal could result in crop losses, effects on health, and damage to infrastructure, due to floods and landslides. For the rest of the country, cumulative rains should fall within the normal range. However, the central part of the country has a 35 percent probability of having rains below normal. If that were the case, yields could be reduced.
- The reduction in remittances, as a consequence of the international economic crisis, could affect food access for the poorest families during the next several months.
- The high cost of fertilizer will make it more difficult for the poorest households to access it. The government is making efforts to distribute fertilizer in May.
Guatemala Country Center

Central Asia

Afghanistan

03/12/2009

Nominal retail prices for wheat, rice, and cooking oil have been declining since November 2008, and the upcoming wheat harvests in Afghanistan and in Pakista ... more
- Nominal retail prices for wheat, rice, and cooking oil have been declining since November 2008, and the upcoming wheat harvests in Afghanistan and in Pakistan and Kazakhstan — major sources of imported wheat — are expected to be good. Consequently, household food access is improving.
- In the most-likely scenario, physical access to food will improve through June due to the reopening of roads by the spring. The main harvest begins in May, and the Indian government has pledged 250,000 MT of wheat. However, food security conditions in chronically food insecure (and physically insecure) areas such as Jawand, Bala Murghab, and Muqor districts of Badghis province, Taywara and Pasawand districts of Ghor Province, Badakhshan, Day Kundy, and Samangan provinces will not improve considerably until after the harvest, due to their remoteness and the inadequate food aid response in 2008.
- In the worst-case scenario, international wheat prices will increase due to a reduced 2009 global wheat harvest. Kazakhstan may elect to not sell cereals to Afghanistan. The government of Pakistan could also prevent the transshipment of 250,000 MT of Indian-donated wheat through Pakistan.
Afghanistan Country Center

Partners

Price Watch

Archive

Most Recent: 05/01/2009
Previous: 03/30/2009

More Markets and Trade products

Exec Overview Brief

Archive

Most Recent: 04/29/2009
Previous: 02/25/2009

Most Recent Alerts

Kenya	04/09/2009
Delayed rains raise concerns in southeast
West Africa	02/17/2009
Above-average prices threaten food security

Also on Alert:

Ethiopia | Somalia

Special Reports

Archive

Somalia	05/06/2009
Somalia Rain Watch as of April 14, 2009
Somalia	05/06/2009
Somalia Rain Watch as of May 5, 2009

Weather Hazards

Archive

Africa	05/07/2009
Africa: Rain deficits continue in Belg region
Afghanistan	05/06/2009
Afghan: Flooding and landslides reported

Response Planning

About Planning
The Contingency Planning Process
The Response Planning Process

The information provided on this Web site is not official U.S. Government information and does not represent the views or positions of the U.S. Agency for International Development or the U.S. Government.