Attachments
FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
- Abundant rainfall amounts at start of 2024 cropping season
- Above‑average cereal production in 2024
- Food prices surging since early 2024 following sharp depreciation of exchange rate
- Dire food security situation due to multiple shocks
Abundant rainfall amounts at start of 2024 cropping season
Abundant rainfall amounts were received across the country in the first half of April 2025, except in some northeastern areas and agropastoral areas of Eastern Equatoria State. In southern bimodal rainfall areas of Greenbelt in Central and Western Equatoria states, where first season crops are planted in March and April, and harvested in July and August, the timely onset of seasonal rains has benefited the germination of early-planted crops. By contrast, in central and northern unimodal rainfall areas, where crops are planted in April and May, and the bulk is harvested in September and October, abundant early season rains have likely disrupted land preparation and planting operations.
According to the latest Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum (GHACOF) weather forecast, rainfall amounts between April and June 2025 are expected to be above average across the country, likely benefiting yields of first season crops in southern bimodal rainfall areas as well as crop establishment and development in central and northern unimodal rainfall areas. However, the expected above-average rainfall amounts are likely to cause flash floods and exacerbate flooding due to river overflows.
Armed clashes since February 2025 in Upper Nile, Unity, Central and Western Equatoria states disrupted agricultural operations and livelihood activities, and caused the new displacement of more than 80 000 people, heightening the risk of pushing back the country into widespread conflict.
Above‑average cereal production in 2024
According to preliminary findings of the 2024 FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission (CFSAM), aggregate cereal production in 2024 is estimated at about 1 123 000 tonnes, over 10 percent above the 2023 output and 25 percent above the average of the previous five years. Cereal production benefited from overall favourable weather conditions, limited flood‑related damage to standing crops and a slight increase in planted area compared to the previous year due to improved security conditions. The overall cereal deficit in the 2025 marketing year (January/December) is estimated at around 350 000 tonnes, about 25 percent less than the 2020‑2024 average deficit. Despite its comparatively low level, the 2025 deficit remains substantial, as it represents about one‑quarter of the domestic cereal requirements.
Food prices surging since early 2024 following sharp depreciation of exchange rate
In the capital, Juba, prices of cereals began to surge in February 2024, increasing at faster rates since December 2024. In March 2025, prices of maize, sorghum and imported wheat were at near‑record to record levels and between three and five times their values in February of the previous year, when prices began to soar. In a context of severe macroeconomic challenges, the surge of cereal prices since early 2024 has been caused by a sharp depreciation of the national currency due to the reduction of oil exports caused by damages to the pipelines passing through the Sudan and by disruptions in oil shipments via the Red Sea.
Dire food security situation due to multiple shocks
According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, about 7.7 million people (57 percent of the total population) are estimated to face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse levels of acute food insecurity during the lean season between April and July 2025. The highest prevalence of severe acute food insecurity, ranging between 65 and 85 percent, was reported in Unity and Upper Nile states and among about the 770 000 South Sudanese returnees from the conflict‑affected Sudan. Concern exists for about 63 000 people facing IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe) levels of acute food insecurity, including 32 000 people in Jonglei and Upper Nile states and 31 000 returnees from the Sudan.
The main drivers of the dire food security situation are protracted macroeconomic challenges resulting in high inflation, insufficient food supply, the lingering impact on livelihoods of consecutive years with widespread floods, episodes of intercommunal violence and a sustained influx of returnees.
Disclaimer: The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
This brief was prepared using the following data/tools:
FAO/GIEWS Country Cereal Balance Sheet (CCBS) https://www.fao.org/giews/data-tools/en/ .
FAO/GIEWS Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Tool https://fpma.fao.org/ .
FAO/GIEWS Earth Observation for Crop Monitoring https://www.fao.org/giews/earthobservation/ .
Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) https://www.ipcinfo.org/ .