Burkina Faso
Cereals available, but costly in Burkina Faso

afrol News, 5 April  - On the whole, food availability is adequate in most regions and localities of Burkina Faso, according to a new report. As most staple cereals as well as other food commodities remained available on major markets, no major food crisis or food insecurity conditions were observed in the country. One however notes an unusual post-harvest upward trend in cereal prices.

According to the latest Burkina Faso report by the US aid agency Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS), food access remained "generally satisfactory in most areas" during the last months. "Prospects for food security between now and the early harvests in September remain satisfactory, especially for people in the Southwest and Eastern Regions," reflected the generally positive harvests in the Sahelian region. 

Significant exceptions, however, included certain areas in the Centre Plateau, the North, and Centre North regions, which had experienced "their second worst harvest in a row." Since most people in these areas primarily depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, it was becoming increasingly difficult for the lowest-income families to buy food from the markets, FEWS reports from Burkina Faso. 

- The national emergency contingency committee (CONASUR) should pay close attention to the situation, FEWS warns on the local potential emergencies, and it should "draw up plans for dealing with likely food insecurity, and provide assistance where needed." In the Centre Plateau, the North, Centre North, and Sahel Regions, many low-income farming families might fail to meet all their food consumption needs in the next 3-4 months. Those rural households who experienced their second crop failure in a row may not have enough grain to eat, let alone plant, when the rainy season begins in May/June.

In general, however, FEWS reports that food accessibility remained good around the country. "In spite of the continued and unexpected upward trend in post-harvest cereal prices, food accessibility conditions remained generally satisfactory." Millet prices had increased steadily in all markets since their recent lows in December. Sorghum and maize followed a similar upward price trend. 

- This implies that those households who must primarily depend on the market to meet their food (millet) needs have to allocate more of their income this year for food (millet) at the expense of other needs, such as health, education, and clothing, FEWS warned. 

Fortunately in rural areas, many households produced good harvests in 2001/02 that are allowing them to avoid market purchases for now. For the majority of households with adequate grain at home, food access is not likely to be affected by rising grain prices. "In fact, it may be improved if they take advantage of higher prices to sell some of their grain now," FEWS notes. On the other hand, low-income households who failed to produce enough to meet their needs may soon run into difficulties.

FEWS had also conducted a study, asking why prices were rising and higher than average at this month of the year. There were two likely explanations, both connected to farm household marketing behaviour.

First, FEWS explains, "in many areas farmers decided, as part of their coping strategies against seasonal hunger (transitory food insecurity), to retain their harvests at home and use the small income they currently get to buy food directly from the market."

Second, the US agency writes, "many cotton farmers in the Southwest Region were paid in cash this year and on time, unlike previous years. Consequently, these farmers, who also happen to be the largest cereal producers in the country due to the positive impact of residual fertilizer in the soil, had less need to sell their grain as quickly as usual to get enough cash for their other basic necessities."

Additional explanations included that the Ministry of Agriculture through the CRSPC (Comité de Réflexion et de Suivi de la Politique Céréalière) had issued a tender for the purchase of more than 21,000 MT of cereals from local markets to replenish the National Security Stock. 

Sources: Based on FEWS and afrol archives

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