Attachments
FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
- Planting of 2025 cereal crops ongoing
- Cereal production in 2024 estimated at above‑average level
- Prices of coarse grains above year‑earlier levels
- Ongoing conflict continues to severely affect food security
Planting of 2025 cereal crops ongoing
Sowing of 2025 cereal crops, including maize, sorghum, millet, rice and fonio, is underway in most regions and is expected to be completed by July. In southern and western areas, including the Cascades, Sud-Ouest and Hauts-Bassins regions, the rainy season began last March, up to one month earlier than usual, while it had a generally timely onset in May elsewhere. Average to above-average precipitation amounts through May supported planting operations and crop establishment in most parts of the country.
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 expected between June and August, likely benefitting yields, but also heightening the risk of flooding.
If the current pace of conflict continues, it will continue to affect farming activities in central and northern areas, probably leading to localized production deficits in 2025.
Cereal production in 2024 estimated at above‑average level
The 2024 aggregate cereal production is officially estimated at 6.1 million tonnes, about 20 percent above the average of the previous five years. Enhanced and effective government support, including the timely provision of agricultural inputs and equipment, free‑of‑charge ploughing services, as well as loans to farmers through the Dumu Ka Fa Fund, boosted yields across the country and enabled farmers to expand the area planted. However, the conflict continued to disrupt agricultural activities, particularly in the Sahel, Est, Boucle du Mouhoun, Nord and Centre‑Nord regions, resulting in localized production shortfalls. Furthermore, dry spells and flooding affected yields in several areas.
Prices of coarse grains above year‑earlier levels
Wholesale prices of locally produced millet remained stable or rose by up to 20 percent between January and May 2025 in most monitored markets, while prices of local sorghum were stable or increased by 10 to 35 percent during the same period. In May 2025, prices of millet were 15 to 30 percent higher on a yearly basis, while prices of sorghum were 10 to 20 percent higher year-on-year, except in a few markets, where they were near their year-earlier values.
High coarse grain prices are mainly underpinned by strong local demand and low stock levels in some localities, caused by localized production deficits in 2024 linked to the inaccessibility of some production areas due to insecurity. In addition, conflict-related market disruptions exerted upward pressure on coarse grain prices.
Ongoing conflict continues to severely affect food security
According to the latest available analysis of the Cadre Harmonisé (CH, March 2024), over 2.7 million people (12 percent of the population) would face acute food insecurity (CH Phase 3 [Crisis] and above) during the lean season from June to August 2024, including around 423 000 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency). Although more recent analyses are currently being finalized, high levels of acute food insecurity are likely to persist due to the ongoing conflict and high food prices.
Conflict remains the key driver of acute food insecurity, with a slight increase in the number of violent incidents reported between January and May 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Blockades by non-state armed groups affected livelihoods of about two million people as of late 2024, mainly in Centre-Nord, Est, Centre-Est, Boucle du Mouhoun, Nord and Sahel regions through limited access to farmland and grazing areas, and loss of assets due to looting and application of informal forms of taxation. Furthermore, the supply of food in local markets and the delivery of humanitarian assistance have been severely constrained, while high prices of main staples have further limited households’ access to food. The town of Djibo remains of particular concern, where a blockade is in place since early 2022 and has affected over 300 000 people, many of them being displaced from surrounding areas.
According to the latest official data available from March 2023, an estimated 2.06 million people are internally displaced in the country, with about 50 percent located in the Sahel and Centre-Nord regions. As of January 2025, about 612 000 people are estimated to have returned to secure areas. Although more recent comprehensive data are not available, widespread internal displacement remains a serious concern in the country. Most IDPs depend on humanitarian aid to meet their basic needs; however, humanitarian assistance remains severely limited due to funding shortfalls.