Attachments
FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
- Planting of 2025 cereal crops underway
- Cereal production in 2024 estimated at above‑average level
- Prices of maize lower on a yearly basis
- About 398 000 people acutely food insecure between March and May 2025
Planting of 2025 cereal crops underway
In southern and central bimodal rainfall areas, planting of the 2025 main season maize crop took place in March and April, while sowing of the rice crop is ongoing and expected to be completed by the end of May. The first rainy season, which normally extends from March to July, had a generally timely onset followed by a mixed performance until early May. In most areas of the departments of Collines, Donga and Zou, average to above-average precipitation amounts supported planting operations and the establishment of early-planted crops. However, in other parts of the country, particularly in coastal areas and the departments of Borgou and Atakora, rainfall deficits have led to below‑average vegetation conditions, as of mid‑May.
In northern unimodal rainfall areas, where the first seasonal rains were received in late April, planting of the 2025 cereal crops, mainly sorghum and millet, has just begun and is expected to be completed by July. Harvesting of these crops will take place in the last quarter of 2025.
Persistent civil insecurity is expected to continue to disrupt agricultural activities in the departments of Alibori and Atakora in 2025.
According to the latest weather forecast by the Forum on Seasonal Forecasts of Agro-hydro-climatic Characteristics of the Rainy Season for the Sudanian and Sahelian Zones of West Africa and the Sahel (PRESASS), average to above‑average rainfall amounts are generally expected between May and July, likely benefitting yields, while drier weather conditions are forecast crops in some coastal areas.
Cereal production in 2024 estimated at above‑average level
The 2024 aggregate cereal production is officially estimated at 2.9 million tonnes, about 24 percent above the average of the previous five years, reflecting generally favourable weather conditions. However, an erratic rainfall distribution and severe dry spells affected crops in localized areas. Furthermore, in northern regions, civil insecurity continued to disrupt agricultural activities, resulting in localized production shortfalls.
Prices of maize lower on a yearly basis
In May 2024, the government imposed an indefinite ban on the export of basic food commodities, including maize, rice, millet, and sorghum, with the aim of containing rising domestic food prices and improving market availability. Prior to the measure, retail prices of locally produced maize had increased by 40 to 65 percent between January and April 2024. Following the implementation of the ban, prices of maize declined by 30 to 40 percent through October. Although seasonal price increases were recorded thereafter, prices were below their year‑earlier levels in March 2025.
Retail prices of local rice, which had risen by up to 15 percent between January and May 2024, remained stable following the introduction of the ban. In March 2025, prices of rice were up to 15 percent higher on a yearly basis.
About 398 000 people acutely food insecure between March and May 2025
According to the latest available Cadre Harmonisé (CH) analysis, about 398 000 people are estimated to face acute food insecurity (CH Phase 3 [Crisis]) between March and May 2025. This shows an increase in the number of acutely food insecure people compared to the same period in 2024, when nearly 364 000 people were estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance. However, this apparent deterioration is mainly due to methodological issues as the analyzed population in 2025 more than doubled compared to 2024.
Violence by non-state armed groups from the Central Sahel continues to affect the departments of Atakora and Alibori, where a significant rise in fatalities was recorded between January and April 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. As of March 2025, civil insecurity led to the internal displacement of about 8 800 people in these departments, which also host the majority of the 23 000 refugees and asylum seekers residing in the country, mostly from Burkina Faso.
During the 2025 June to August lean season period, about 295 000 people (2 percent of the analyzed population) are expected to face acute food insecurity.