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afrol News, 7 March - In spite of the rising prices for major staple crops, relatively favorable food security conditions continue to prevail in most parts of Burkina Faso, acording to the latest updates. Most markets have been well supplied with major staple commodities over the last months. According to the latest Burkina Faso report by the US agency Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWSnet), the food security situation in the country remains mainly positive. From mid-December to mid-January, both favorable food availability and accessibility conditions continued to prevail throughout the country, FEWS reports. - Most markets remained well supplied in staple cereals, such as millet, sorghum, and maize, according to FEWS. "In addition, fresh produce that included a host of vegetable crops have begun reaching the markets in many localities." With respect to prices, available data seemed to suggest, however, that staple cereal prices increased more last month, compared to the past five year averages (1997-01) for the same period across major reference markets (Bobo, Ouagadougou, Dori, Ouahigouya). Nevertheless, the food accessibility conditions on the whole were not significantly affected, FEWS holds, "considering that some crops, such as millet continued to be fairly affordable, while alternative options for trading higher market valued commodities (cowpea; livestock) for cereals remained open to most households." Both millet and sorghum constitute the most widely consumed staple commodities in the country and particularly in the chronically production-deficit zones of the Center, Center North, North, and Sahel regions. "Therefore any major changes in the prices of these commodities affect the food access conditions faced by average households in the country," FEWS reports. In most localities in Burkina Faso, farmers usually grow cowpea along with cereal crops. Since this year the rainy season was particularly good in terms of quantity and distribution, one can surmise that the cowpea production would fairly well tally the level of cereal production, which was very satisfactory in many localities. Therefore, the terms of trade for exchanging cowpeas for cereals are also favorable. Also, many households could derive substantial revenues by selling their cowpea instead of cereals and can afford purchasing most of the cereal grain needed for their daily consumption, the analysts of FEWS maintain. Livestock in many localities was in a relatively good condition this year, owing to the good rainfall and adequate water and forage conditions. Consequently, many households could also sell part of their livestock to purchase any additional cereals that might be needed. Sources: Based on FEWS
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