Key messages

• Agricultural production is expected to be good in 2012, much above the 2007–2011 average levels for all main products, except winter crops which have been severely affected by frosts. A tenderhas been launched to import 70 000 tonnes of wheat to cover food consumption.

• The prevalence of poverty declined from 26.3% in 2009 to 21.9% in 2010 and is expected to have further decreased in 2011. The reduction was larger in rural than in urban areas but the difference between rural and urban areas remains huge.

• Food prices remained nearly stable in January–March 2012, except for beef meat which increased by 8%.

• Cereal imports in the first quarter of 2012 were 24% above the previous year’s levelwhilst the import bill was 87%higher than in the first quarter of 2011 due to high import prices.