FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
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Cereal production recovered significantly in 2013
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Maize prices exhibited high volatility in recent months, mainly reflecting the impact of civil insecurity
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The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate in the northern part of the country, as a result of continuing civil conflict
The cropping season has started on time in the South
Seasonal rainfall has started in April in southern parts of the country, where planting of the first maize crop is underway. Planting activities are expected to progressively move northwards with the onset of the rains. The escalating civil insecurity in northern parts of the country is reportedly causing increasing number of farmers to abandon their farms, which may negatively affect planted area and difficulties in accessing inputs which may potentially lower yields.
Last year, regular and well-distributed rains benefited crop development in the major agricultural producing areas of the country. The official estimate puts the 2013 aggregate cereal production at some 24 million tonnes, an increase of 11 percent over the 2012 floods-affected output.