- Most farming areas are reporting rainfall deficits. The size of the area planted in grain and cash crops is down from last season. A prediction for end of season conditions for the 2009 rainy season indicates a mediocre to average harvests, depending on the farming area in question. Despite the generally satisfactory food security situation right now, with the harvest season just getting underway (Figure 1), food insecurity levels are expected to rise in rice farming, transhumant pastoral, agropastoral, and flood recession farming areas (plain areas planted in flood recession berbéré crops).

- Harvests of short cycle crops continue, driving down September prices from their previous high levels at the height of the hunger season on all major grain markets (N'Djamena, Moundou, Sarh, Abéché, and Moussoro) monitored by FEWS NET. However, prices are still above the five year average, limiting food access for poor households.

- The current improvement in pastoral conditions is reflected in the good performance of dairy and slaughter animals and the favorable terms of trade for sheep/millet from the standpoint of pastoralists, strengthening their food access. However, poor pasture and water availability is causing animals in northern areas to head south earlier and faster than usual, beginning in September, compared with the usual start of seasonal migration in October/November in an average year. With harvests still in progress, this could rekindle disputes between farmers and pastoralists.