No short-term prospect of a deterioration in food security conditions due to the drought
• Crops planted in February/March in many parts of the country are currently being harvested, increasing market supplies of local crops and stabilizing their prices.
• The drought conditions in many areas since the end of May are threatening harvests of corn crops planted in April/May, as well as other crops like rice and beans. The Southern, Western, Northwestern, and Northeastern regions have been especially hard hit by the drought.
Ministry of Agriculture experts are estimating potential losses at 40 percent or higher, depending on the area in question.
• Crop failures due to the May/June drought should not have any significant short‐term effect on food insecurity levels, with harvests in June/July helping to meet household food needs into July and August. However, practically the entire Northeastern region and many municipalities in the Southern, Western, Northwestern,
Artibonite, and Nippes regions will be in IPC Phase 2 (Stressed) in August and September if the drought continues beyond the end of July.
• Staple food prices on most markets across the country are relatively stable. This trend could continue into July/August, during the harvest season. However, with the small harvest of spring crops and the end of the season for mangoes and breadfruits, which are used mostly for on‐farm consumption and in large‐scale marketing operations, prices for local crops will probably begin to rise by August, which is a little earlier than usual.