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. The rest of the country received below-normal rainfall, even southern locations such as Bobo. Rainfall needs to return to normal levels quickly if these areas expect to have a normal harvest. In contrast, agricultural activities are still on schedule in the center plateau zone, center north, north, and Sahel regions. Consequently, many farmers continued with the usual practice of preparing their lands while waiting for more favorable rains before sowing.
No major threats to food security were reported during the period. The spread of meningitis, reported earlier, tends to be facilitated by dry and windy weather conditions. Fortunately, the arrival of the rainy season has helped bring the epidemic disease under control and prevented the epidemic from spreading further.
The Council of Ministers decided on June 20 to reorganize the country into 13 major regions. According to the Ministry of Interior, this decision stemmed from the
1 difficulties the former 45 provinces faced in standing by themselves as economic entities. Consequently, grouping them into major regions appeared to be a more viable alternative, while still contributing to the decentralization process that started several years ago.
On the whole, food-security prospects remain hopeful and promising, provided that the rains are well distributed between now and the end of the season in late August/early September.
1. Current Food-Security Conditions
1.1 Food Availability
From mid-May through June 10, no major food availability problems were reported in the country. Most major markets indeed continued to be adequately supplied with all necessary cereals and other staple supplies. Nevertheless, many low-income families had been finding it increasingly difficult to buy enough food. Fortunately, the government food assistance program, which was reinforced last month with donor pledges amounting to 14,300 MT, has made a significant quantity of food, now up to 32,300 MT, available to food-insecure populations throughout the country through direct free distribution (10 percent of the total aid) or subsidized sales (90 percent). Food aid will be sold in each location at the subsidized price of 11,000 CFA F/100-kg bag, compared with 18,000 CFA F in most markets between late May and early June. This subsidy, if carefully targeted, could significantly boost the purchasing power of low-income households and improve their food access.
According to the Ministry of Social Affairs, the proposed government food aid is aimed at reaching about 334,771 individuals considered as extremely and highly food insecure in the 13 most affected provinces in the country (under the previous administrative divisions, these include Seno, Oudalan, Soum, Yagha, Lorum, Yatenga, Zandoma, Passoré, Gnagna, Bam, Sanmatenga, Namentenga, and Komandjari). Of these, Namentenga (Map 1) appears to be among the worst affected, as it accounts for 75 percent (251,752 individuals) of the extremely and highly food insecure population. Fortunately, the government food relief program in late May was reported to have reached most of the highly affected departments in Namentenga (Boala, Boulsa, Bouroum, Dargo, Tougouri, Yalgo, and Zéguédin).
2 Map 1. Namentenga Province, Location of Most Food-Insecure People in 2001
In June 1,580 MT of food aid was delivered to Nametenga Namentenga Province
Other provinces of Burkina Faso OUDALAN
SOUM
YATENGA SENO BAM
SANMATENGA NAMENTENGA SOUROU PASSORE GNAGNA
KOSSI OUBRITENGA
BOULKIEMDE KADIOGO SANGUIE GANZOURGOU KOURITENGA MOUHOUN BAZEGA TAPOA GOURMA
ZOUNDWEOGO BOULGOU KENEDOUGOU SISSILI HOUET NAHOURI BOUGOURIBA
COMOE
PONI ADMINISTRATIVE BOUNDARIES KM BFADMIN:PROVINCES BFADMIN:Admin_1 0 50 100
This second phase of the government’s food aid program started in mid-April and is expected to continue through June. A third and final phase will run through the rest of the growing season, up to late August/early September. This third phase is part of the rehabilitation process aimed at providing adequate food to sustain the production efforts of the same food-insecure groups. Without such support, people in these groups might be too weak to carry out agricultural production activities necessary to enable them to extract themselves from their food insecurity.
In addition to food aid, the early start of the rainy season has helped make food available in some areas. Since May, some localities have received beneficial above- average rainfall (Figure 4). Besides helping increase the availability of water and fodder for animals, this rainfall is also generating green leaves and wild fruit that can serve as alternative foods for households that cannot afford to buy all they need from the market.
On the whole, increasing food insecurity has gradually stabilized in several areas thanks to the good start of the rains as well as the steady efforts by the government and the donor community to implement a consensus food aid program in favor of the needy.
3 1.2 Food Accessibility Conditions
Food access conditions during the period, as approximated by market prices, are summarized in Figures 1, 2, and 3 for the major markets through June 10. Although prices of staple commodities, such as sorghum and millet, continued to remain well above the 1996-2000 average, it was particularly encouraging to note that for the first time in months, prices have begun to stabilize or decrease across most of these markets. For instance, millet prices dropped between early May and early June. The same trend was observed for sorghum across most major markets, except for Ouahigouya.
Figure 1. Nominal Millet Prices in Key Markets 250 May 2001 June 2001 200 Avg June 1996-2000
150
100 CFA Francs per kg 50
0 Bobo-Centre Dori Ouahigouya Ouagadougou Kaya
FEWS NET/Burkina Faso Source: SIM
One explanation for the price decreases could be the food aid program, which for several weeks now has distributed free food and subsidized cereal prices at 11,000 CFA F/100 kg. Lower market demand due to food aid sales and distributions has helped drive down cereal prices in late May/early June compared with late April/early May.
4 Figure 2. Nominal Sorghum Prices in Key Markets 250 May 2001 June 2001 200 Avg June 1996-2000
150
100 CFA Francs per kg 50
0 Bobo-Centre Dori Ouahigouya Ouagadougou Kaya
FEWS NET/Burkina Faso Source: SIM
In addition, the fact that most food aid is comprised of millet also contributed to driving millet prices down at a relatively faster rate compared to sorghum (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Changes in Nominal Retail Cereal Prices between May and June 2001
Kaya
Ouagadougou
Ouahigouya
Dori Sorghum
Millet Bobo-Centre
-18 -16 -14 -12 -10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2
Percent Change in Prices (CFA/kg) FEWS NET/Burkina Faso Source: SIM
As a result, needy people in many areas no longer have to depend exclusively on traders or the market to meet their cereal needs. Incidentally, access to free or subsidized food has also helped discourage grain hoarding by some traders who
5 usually prefer waiting until prices have reached their highest peak before putting out their stocks for sales.
In short, declining prices in late May/early June suggest that food-access conditions have improved during the period for average-income households. Food access has improved, particularly for those households that received free food and those that are eligible to buy cereals at subsidized prices.
1.3. Response Planning Update
1.3.1. Revised Food Aid Update
The government food aid program is proceeding as planned and agreed upon by the donors in mid-May. By the end of June, it is expected that 34,000 MT of food will have been distributed for free or sold at a subsidized price to most of the needy populations. To sustain the agricultural production efforts of the same food-insecure populations, a third phase of the food aid program is expected to run from the beginning of July through late August/early September. Together, these efforts should alleviate the transitory food insecurity conditions. If the rains continue through the crop growing cycle without disruption, crops from early harvests should become available in late August/early September. Consequently, the number of people in need of emergency food assistance is expected to taper off sharply.
2. National Trends
2.1. Hazard information
2.1.1 Rainfall
Two major trends can be observed from the cumulative rainfall amounts recorded this season, as shown in Figure 4. First, in the east (Fada N’Gourma) and northwest (Dédougou) zones, the rains exceed the 1971-00average. Farmers are taking advantage of this relatively greater moisture for planting activities. On the other hand, the amount of rains recorded in the rest of the country was lower than the 19971-00 averages in the southwest (Bobo), center plateau (Ouaga), north (Ouahigouya), and Sahel (Dori) regions. Unless these regions receive more rain before too long, they will not gain a good start on the season.
6 Figure 4. Cumulative Rainfall in Key Locations: April 1 - May 31
160 Cumulative 2001 140 Average 1971-2000
120
100
80
60
40 Recorded Rainfall in mm 20
0 Bobo- Ouaga- Ouahi- Fada Dedougou Dori Dioulasso dougou gouya N'Gourma Cumulative 2001 86 149 71 27 14 151 Average 1971-2000 148 87 93 42 25 114 FEWS NET/Burkina Faso Source: National Meteorological Services
2.1.2 Agricultural activities and crop calendars
Thanks to the relatively early start of the rainy season, planting activities have already begun in several parts of the country. In the east (Fada N’Gourma), and center east (Boulgou; Koulpelgo) regions as well as in many lowland areas, the sowing/planting activities were well under way as of mid-June in some localities.
On the other hand, in most of the remaining areas, farmers were still busy preparing their land while waiting for more favorable rains. Whereas crop-planting activities can still be carried out through late June/mid-July, this is not the case for certain areas in Ouaga, Ouahigouya, and Dori where crops must be planted earlier. For instance in the Bobo area, most crops, including cotton, the major cash crop there, should normally be planted by June 30. Below-average rainfall to date is of major concern because the Bobo region is known as a grain basket in the country. A poor start to the season there tends to result in poor crop performance. Without more favorable rains, the country may be heading for another difficult year.
2.1.3. Macroeconomic indicators: Inflation
According to INSD (Institut National de la Statistique et de la Démographie), the consumer price index for the entire country was estimated at 112.2 as of May 2001 (where 1996 = 100). This is equivalent to a net inflation rate of 4.6 percent during May alone, which is 0.3 percent and 2.5 percent greater than inflation in May 2000 and May 1999, respectively. Thus, the average Burkinabe consumer has had to spend
7 4.6 percent more than usual this month to maintain the same level of expenditure. Unfortunately, low-income families usually don’t have enough income for increased spending. Consequently, they end up with fewer items in their basket than usual. Because low-income families generally spend the bulk of their income on food, one can surmise that there was relatively less food for their consumption in May this year compared with the same months in 1999 and 2000.
2.1.4. Meningitis Update
During the period under review, no hazard events were reported. The previously reported meningitis outbreak is under control with the start of the rainy season in many localities. The disease, bacterial meningitis, normally spreads by dry and windy conditions. Fortunately, with the arrival of the early rains, there were no more reports of casualties or spread of the disease during the period.
2.2 Nonhazard information: Reorganization of the country into 13 major regions
During the June 20 Council of Minister’s meeting, the Government enacted a law that would pave the way for the reorganization of the country into 13 major administrative regions. According to the Ministry of Interior, this decision stemmed from the difficulties faced by the former 45 provinces in standing alone as economic entities. Consequently, grouping them into major regions appeared a more viable alternative, even while continuing the decentralization process that was started several years ago. The administrative delimitation for these newly created regions are as follows (Table 1):
8 Table 1: Newly created regions as of June 20 in Burkina Faso
1. Les Cascades Region would consist of Comoé and Léraba Provinces, with the Regional Capital at Banfora.
2. Les Hauts Bassins Region would consist of Houet, Kénédougou, and Tuy Provinces, with the Regional Capital at Bobo-Dioulasso.
3. La Boucle du Mouhoun Region would consist of Kossi, Mouhoun, Sourou, Nayala, Balé and Banwa Provinces, with the Regional Capital at Dédougou.
4. Le Sahel Region would consist of Ouadalan, Seno, Soum,and Yagha Provinces, with the Regional Capital at Dori.
5. The East Region would consist of Gourma, Gnagna, Komandjari, Kompiengam and Tapoa Provinces, with the Regional Capital at Fada N’Gourma.
6. The South West Region would consist of Bougouriba, Noumbiel, and Poni Provinces, with the Regional Capital at Gaoua.
7. The Center North Region would consist of Bam, Sanamtenga, and Namentenga, with the Regional Capital at Kaya.
8. The Center West Region would consist of Bulkiemdé, Sanguié, Sissili, and Ziro Provinces, with the Regional Capital at Koudougou.
9. The Center Plateau Region would consist of Ganzourgou, Kourwéogo, and Oubritenga Provinces, with the Regional Capital at Ziniaré.
10. The Center South Region would consist of Bazèga, Nahouri, and Zoundwéogo Provinces, with the Regional Capital at Manga.
11. The North Region would consist of Lorum, Passoré, Yatenga, and Zondoma Provinces, with the Regional Capital at Ouahigouya.
12. The Center East Region would consist of Boulgou, Koulpélgo, and Kouritenga Provinces, with the Regional Capital at Tenkodogo.
13. The Center Region would consist of Kadiogo Province, with the Regional Capital at Ouagadougou.
9 3. Food-Security Prospects
The period under review was characterized by relatively favorable conditions both in terms of improved food availability (food aid) as well as better accessibility of food (lower prices) on the market place for the average consumer (see Figures 1, 2, and 3). In addition, thanks to the relatively good start of the rainy season in several localities throughout the country, more water and fresh fodder are increasingly available to meet the needs of animals in agropastoral areas. Moreover, wild leaves and fresh fruit have become more readily available for consumption by low-income families who cannot afford meeting all their needs from the market place. Finally, thanks to the early start of the rains, the farmers have begun sowing crops in several localities throughout the country.
In light of these circumstances, food-security prospects on the whole are likely to remain favorable, particularly if the rains continue without much disruption throughout the growing cycle of the crops. In summary, the performance of the rainy season, in terms of quantity as well as spatial and temporal distribution, will be a major determinant of the food security in Burkina Faso during the coming months.
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