The USAID Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWSNET) (Réseau USAID du Système d’Alerte Précoce contre la Famine) 01 BP 1615 Ouagadougou 01, Burkina Faso, West Africa Tel/Fax: 226-31-46-74. Email:
[email protected] STATE OF FOOD SECURITY IN BURKINA FASO FEWS NET UPDATE FOR MAY-JUNE, 2001 JUNE 23, 2001 HIGHLIGHTS Thanks to the joint government/donor food assistance program, prices of major food staples, such as millet, have begun to fall on several major reference markets This reports covers the period extending from mid-May through mid-June. No major food availability problems were reported during this period. Most staple cereals as well as other food commodities continued to be available on major reference markets. While many low-income households have had problems buying enough food in the market, the relief program started by the government and donors several months ago has helped improve food availability and access for the needy, some of whom received a distribution of free food during the period. In the meantime, the government has subsidized cereal prices for eligible households at 11,000 CFAF/100-kg bag compared with 18,000 CFA/100-kg bag on the regular market. As a result of these efforts, the prices of cereals such as millet have begun to decline for the first time in months on major reference markets. Data from the National Meteorological Bureau suggest that mainly the east (Fada N’Gourma) and northwest (Dédougou) regions had relatively favorable rainfall, even exceeding the 1971-00 average. Farmers in these localities have started sowing; others are well underway.