sign in sign up
<<
Home , Bilma, Dosso Region, Ouallam Department, Tahoua Department, Tahoua Region, Tchadoua

Food Security Update April 2008

• Prices on local grain markets remain high, resulting in food Figure 1. Current food security assessment (April access problems and high food insecurity in certain areas 2008) in the western and far eastern reaches of the country. High prices and an increasing reliance on local markets, even in areas reporting average harvests, have also resulted in large numbers of households in the western and central reaches of the country are being classified as moderately food‐insecure.

• With armed conflict limiting local supplies of basic foodstuffs and interrupting typical income sources, food and nutrition insecurity in the northern part of the country is classified as severe.

• In pastoral areas, trends on livestock markets are still positive and, despite reported disruptions on grain markets, animal sales are helping to shore up the Source: FEWS NET Niger purchasing power of pastoral households.

• With the start of the growing season, a rise in the number of cases of malnutrition can be expected over the next few months in all parts of the country, particularly between June and September, as a result of diseases outbreaks and the exhaustion of household food reserves.

Seasonal calendar and critical events timeline

Source: FEWS NET Niger Market conditions and food access

An examination of market conditions indicates that cereal supplies are still tight, and while demand is growing, this growth is tempered by the impoverishment of local households. Limited food availability is a result of dwindling local supplies, disruptions in traditional trade flows from neighboring countries and soaring world market prices for rice. Price trends on local markets vary from area to area, depending on supply levels. April prices were down on collection markets in areas where this year’s harvests were reportedly good (e.g., Bakin Birgi (, ) and (Aguié, Maradi)) and a

FEWS NET Washington FEWS NET Niger 1717 H St NW FEWS NET is a USAID-funded activity. The authors’ views expressed in this Tel: 20 73 41 20 publication do not necessarily reflect the view of the United States Agency Washington DC 20006 [email protected] for International Development or the United States Government. [email protected]

www.fews.net/niger NIGER Food Security Update April 2008 Figure 2. Nominal retail prices of millet on the Bakin Birgi and comparison with the five‐year average shows prices in Tchadoua collection markets in April 2008, compared with the Bakin and Tchadoua running 30 and 4 percent below‐ average, 2005 and 2007 average, respectively (Figure 2).

In contrast, current price on consumer markets in food‐ deficit areas are still running high, compared with both the five‐year average and, in some cases, 2005 (a crisis year) prices. More specifically, current prices on the (), (Tillabery) and N’Guigmi () markets are among the highest in the country (196 CFAF/kg in Arlit, 234 CFAF in Ouallam and 260 CFAF in N’Guigmi) (Figure 3). According to the contingency plan approved in January of this year, current prices prices in Ouallam puts this area in the critically food‐insecure category, while N’Guigmi is still classified as moderately food‐insecure and conditions in Arlit are considered normal. Source: SIMA and FEWS NET Niger However, while prices remain high, the rate of increase Figure 3. Nominal retail prices for millet (CFAF/kg) on the slowed somewhat in the month of April. Interventions Arlit, Ouallam and N’Guigmi consumer markets in April 2008, by the government, NGOs and other partners in areas compared with the average, 2005 and 2007 reporting steep hikes in March prices (e.g., social marketing programs, strengthening of grain banks, cash for work programs and, in some cases, targeted distributions of free food aid) have contributed to this stabilization. There are also plans to provide area residents with supplies of improved seeds, plant health products and fertilizer to help ensure better conditions for crop production during the upcoming growing season.

Conditions on livestock markets and sources of income and grain access for pastoral households

Livestock markets are functioning normally, due to the large number of buyers and sellers, particularly Nigerian livestock exporters, which are helping to sustain high prices for large animals (i.e., bulls). However, the Source: SIMA and FEWS NET Niger seasonal shortage of pasture resources between June and August will lead to an increasing supply of livestock on markets in pastoral areas over the next few months, gradually driving down livestock prices.

Nevertheless, a comparison with different reference periods shows prices for bulls in April of this year still running well above the five‐year average for the same period (Figure 4). For example, this month, bulls have been selling for 282,000 CFAF on the market (located in a livelihood zone dominated by pastoralism), 60 percent above the five‐year average for April. Current prices are also running well above 2005 prices (Figure 4). These favorable market conditions are attributable to the good body conditions of fattened animals and the sustained demand from countries like and Cote d’Ivoire.

As in the case of large animals, market conditions for sales of small animals are also quite favorable. Thus, trends in terms of trade for male goats/millet are within the so‐called “normal” range, according to established thresholds under the national contingency plan (Figure 5).

Famine Early Warning Systems Network 2 NIGER Food Security Update April 2008 Figure 4. Nominal prices of bulls in , Gouré and However, after peaking in March, terms of trade for Tchintabaraden in April 2008, compared with 2005, 2007 and livestock/grain began to weaken in April on certain the 2003/07 average markets (e.g., N’Guigmi) in the wake of the steadily rising in grain prices. Thus, the selling price of a male goat on the N’Guigmi market in April bought herders a mere 89 kg of millet, compared with an average of 128 kg, equal to 38 percent less grain. In order to cover their food costs, herders are being forced to sell more animals than usual further depressing small ruminant prices and explaining the larger numbers of animals for sale on local markets at this time.

Food situation

Current grain prices on the Ouallam, Loga and Gaya markets are exposing residents of these areas to serious food access constraints, creating food security problems comparable to conditions in 2005, according Source: SIMB and FEWS NET Niger to established thresholds under the national contingency plan (Figure 6). Based on these same Figure 5. Terms of trade (kg of millet per male goat) in criteria, large numbers of residents of Tillabery, Say, N’Guigmi in April 2008, compared with 2005, 2007 and the Kollo, Birni Konni, , Gouré, Mainé Soroa and 2003/07 average N’Guigmi departments are being classified as moderately food‐insecure (Figure 6). All of these departments are either structurally deficit areas or areas which reported production shortfalls this year after a late start‐of‐season and a shorter than usual rainy season.

Terms of trade for livestock/grain are also reaching critical levels in pastoral areas of , Agadez and Diffa, where a male goat is now worth less than one sack of millet. The price of a male goat throughout the country’s pastoral belt is currently equivalent to, at most, between 74 and 97 kg of millet (Figure 7). Accordingly, herders are being forced to sell more than one animal to meet the food needs of all household members, explaining the current increase in market Source: SIMA, SIMB and FEWS NET Niger supplies of livestock in pastoral areas and the depreciating the value of these animals. These food security problems are being heightened by disruptions in the food trade between northern and southern Niger which has resulted from the deterioration in security conditions in the north.

Conditions in pastoral areas could deteriorate even further in June, July and August in the face of a late start‐of‐season, a reduction in available pasture resources and depreciation in the market value of livestock as grain prices continue to rise, making grain access difficult for herders and their families.

The northern part of the country is another area of great concern, in terms of food security and nutritional conditions, due to the armed conflict in that area, which is limiting supplies of basic foodstuffs for local residents. Food access is also increasingly constrained as major income‐generating activities, such as tourism and the production and sale of truck crops (potatoes and onions), are interrupted by the fighting in this area. The resulting food security conditions are considered severe.

Famine Early Warning Systems Network 3 NIGER Food Security Update April 2008

The deterioration in market indicators in the country’s other Figure 6. Nominal prices for millet in April 2008 departments has not yet reached critical levels, but could do compared with the 2002/03-2006/07 average so at some future point, particularly during the upcoming lean period between July and September.

Thus, there is an increasingly urgent need for the government and its partners to agree to the mounting and implementation of programs designed to improve the household food situation by facilitating shipments of supplies, initiating income‐generating activities, strengthening grain banks, and implementing subsidy programs and seed aid for the planting of rainfed crops. The government of Niger, with the help of its partners, has recently taken steps to ensure regular shipments of supplies to food‐short areas and to facilitate food access on local markets. These measures geared to bolstering food availability and facilitating food access will need to be Source: SIMA; Graphic by FEWS NET stepped up over the next few months, as the lean period gets Figure 7. Terms of trade in April 2008 underway.

Nutritional situation

The nutritional situation is beginning to raise concerns in some departments, (Agadez, Arlit, (), Diffa (), Gaya (), Aguié, , Guidan‐Roumdji, (), Tchintabaraden (), Matamey, , Tanout and Zinder (), where therapeutic feeding center admission rates have jumped by between six and 50 percent in the face of dwindling food reserves and declining dietary diversity (Figure 8). The situation is further complicated by outbreaks of seasonal illnesses (with the beginning of the hot weather in March) including meningitis and measles, mainly in departments close to or along the Nigerian border (Guidan Source: SIMA, SIMB; Graphic by FEWS NET Niger Roumdji, Maradi commune, , Tessaoua, , Magaria, , , Zinder commune, Birni NKonni, Keita, Doutchi, Filingué, Illéla and ).

Birni Konni and Keita (Tahoua), Dogon Doutchi, (Dosso) and Filingué (Tillabery) have issued meningitis alerts, while Illéla and Madaoua (Tahoua) are reporting full‐blown outbreaks. The level of the , the main source of water for local residents, is dangerously low, exposing residents to various diarrheal diseases. However, April admissions at therapeutic feeding centers in these areas are visibly lower than at the same time last year despite rising food prices. Reported improvements, particularly in , are attributable to joint interventions by the government and its development partners and, in particular, to the inclusion of nutrition programs in the basic package of services offered by health care facilities at all levels and as a part of local income‐generating activities. These interventions will need to be extended and expanded to prevent a seasonal deterioration in nutrition indicators during the upcoming lean period.

Overall, most departments have reported admissions rates of between 0 and 100 per 100,000 children. A handful of departments have reported, 101 to 200 admissions per 100,000 children and reports of more than 201 admissions per 100,000 children was very rare, occurring only in Dakoro, Guidan Roumdji and Mayahi departments in the Maradi region (Figure 8), where all regularly conducted surveys indicate high rates of chronic malnutrition due to poor child feeding practices.

Famine Early Warning Systems Network 4 NIGER Food Security Update April 2008 Figure 8. Admissions rates at therapeutic feeding centers An examination of admissions rates at therapeutic feeding for malnourished children between 6 and 59 months of centers for April of this year shows a total of 9,921 new cases age (number of children per 100,000 population) in April of malnutrition, including 7,829 cases of moderate 2008, by department malnutrition and 2,092 cases of severe malnutrition, compared with 17,651 cases in April of 2007, a 44 percent improvement (Figure 9). A breakdown of admissions figures by region puts the largest numbers of cases in the Maradi (5,856 cases, including 1,373 cases of severe malnutrition, accounting for 59 percent of admissions), Zinder (1,098 cases, or 11 percent of admissions) and Tahoua (1,015 cases, or 10 percent of admissions) regions, due to the high rates of chronic malnutrition reported in these areas.

Admissions rates in most departments show an improvement over April of last year due to better children’s services. The sole exceptions are Matameye in the Zinder region, Tessaoua (Maradi), (Tahoua region), Loga, Doutchi and Gaya (Dosso), Kollo and Tillabery (Tillabery region) (Figure 9). The situation in the Dosso region is attributable, Source: DSSER, FEWS NET Niger among other things, to poor household food availability and Figure 9. Admissions of malnourished children to food access problems caused by chronic production shortfalls treatment centers in April 2008, compared with figures in Loga and cyclical shortfalls in Gaya and Dogon Doutchi. for April 2007 The poor conditions in Kollo and Tillabery departments are a product of water‐borne diseases resulting from the poor quality of the water in the Niger River, whose level is dangerously low this year. The other departments reporting a deterioration in nutritional conditions, namely Tessaoua and Matameye, are traditional pockets of nutritional stress currently facing serious meningitis outbreaks due to poor dietary, health, hygienic and sanitation conditions.

The government and its partners will need to step up current interventions to improve the state of nutrition in these areas in July, August and September, focusing, in particular, on:

• In the Niger River area: treatment programs for sick children and awareness‐raising programs for local residents dealing with personal hygiene and Source: DSSER, FEWS NET Niger sanitation; • In the Dosso region: treatment programs for sick children and assistance programs for food‐short households, particularly during the lean period; and • In the Tahoua, Maradi and Zinder regions: extended mass vaccination campaigns against measles and meningitis, awareness‐raising programs for local residents designed to instill good child feeding practices, treatment programs for sick children, assistance programs for food‐short households, particularly during the lean period, and stepped‐ up awareness‐raising programs designed to change the behavior of women and entire communities to help improve the diets of young children.

To this same end, blanket supplementary feeding programs for children under three years of age such as envisaged WFP and UNICEF programs, micronutrient supplementation programs, systematic parasite treatment programs for children under the age of five and distributions of insecticide‐impregnated mosquito nets are highly recommended for the duration of the lean period (from July through September).

Famine Early Warning Systems Network 5 NIGER Food Security Update April 2008

For the time being, the government, with the help of partners such as the WHO and HKI, is continuing to work towards this goal through national campaigns for the distribution of supplies of vitamin A to breast‐feeding women and children between 6 and 59 months of age and iron‐folate supplements to pregnant women, systematic parasite treatment programs for children and pregnant women and the distribution of some 300,000 insecticide‐impregnated mosquito nets by the Red Cross. Moreover, there are plans to implement a blanket feeding program from July through September of this year under which approximately 2,758,623 metric tons of CSB (corn soy blend), sugar and oil will be distributed to mothers with children under the age of three living within a 10 km radius of a nutrition center.

Famine Early Warning Systems Network 6