Attachments
FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
- Cereal production in 2024 forecast at above‑average level
- Prices of rice above year-earlier levels
- About 519 000 people acutely food insecure during 2024 lean season
Cereal production in 2024 forecast at above‑average level
Harvesting operations of the 2024 coarse grain crops are about to conclude, while those of the rice crop are expected to finalize in January 2025. The rainy season, which normally starts in June in southern areas and in July in central and northern regions, had a generally timely onset. In most areas, cumulative rainfall amounts between June and October were adequate to satisfy cereal crop water requirements, supporting yields. However, in some parts of the regions of Kaffrine, Tambacounda and Kolda, early season dryness affected planting operations and crop establishment. Furthermore, rainfall deficits between mid-August and early September affected crop establishment and development in parts of Saint-Louis Region, resulting in localized production shortfalls. Abundant rainfall between mid-September and mid-October benefitted crop development in most regions, while flooding in parts of northern and eastern areas of the country caused localized minor crop losses.
The 2024 aggregate cereal production is forecast at 3.8 million tonnes, about 8 percent above the average of the previous five years.
Prices of rice above year-earlier levels
The national average retail prices of local and imported rice, the most consumed cereal in the country, increased by 15 and 25 percent, respectively, from December 2023 to May 2024. In the following months, prices of local and imported rice remained mostly stable and, in October 2024, they were 10 and 20 percent, respectively, above their year-earlier levels.
The national average retail prices of millet and maize rose seasonally by 5 and 10 percent, respectively, between June and August 2024, while the price of sorghum declined by 10 percent during the same period. Prices of millet and maize registered slight seasonal decreases in September and October 2024, while the price of sorghum remained stable. In October 2024, prices of coarse grains were below their year-earlier levels.
About 519 000 people acutely food insecure during 2024 lean season
According to the March 2024 Cadre Harmonisé (CH) analysis, nearly 519 000 people (about 3 percent of the population) were estimated to face acute food insecurity (CH Phase 3 [Crisis] and above) during the June to August 2024 lean season period, including approximately 12 000 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency). This shows a substantial decrease in the number of acutely food insecure people compared to the same period in 2023, when over 1.26 million people (about 7 percent of the population) were estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance. The improvement in the situation is mainly due to the above‑average cereal output harvested in 2023.
Concerns exist for the food security situation of approximately 103 000 people affected by recent floods, whose livelihoods have been significantly disrupted.