STATE OF FOOD SECURITY IN BURKINA FASO FEWS NET UPDATE FOR FEBRUARY-MARCH, March 25, 2001

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1 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: jsedgo@fews.net STATE OF FOOD SECURITY IN BURKINA FASO FEWS NET UPDATE FOR FEBRUARY-MARCH, 2001 March 25, 2001 HIGHLIGHTS Tight food security conditions continue to prevail throughout most of the northern and Sahel provinces of Burkina Faso. In March, the food security situation remained satisfactory in several areas. Nevertheless, most households located in areas with poor harvests five months ago have begun facing serious difficulties in meeting their daily food needs. Areas of particular concern include the center plateau, north, east, center north, and the Sahel regions. Millet is the key staple cereal in Burkina Faso and its relative price level is generally a good indicator of food access. Millet prices in selected reference markets (Bobo, Dedougou and Ouagadougou) and other markets throughout the country (for example, Fada, Kaya and Ouahigouya) remain near or below average prices. Price levels in the northern Sahelian markets may indicate significant carryover stocks being held by traders and households. However, higher millet prices in Dori may indicate increasing food insecurity. As a result, FEWS NET recommends a joint field visit to the northern Sahel areas to assess more precisely current levels of food insecurity. Some farm households are responding to the poor harvest by increasing their off-season agricultural activities. These activities are still going on where water has not become a limiting factor, particularly in Kadiogo, Oubritenga, Yatenga and Passoré as well most of the south west provinces. Elsewhere, off-season agricultural activities have come to a standstill due to severe water limitations. In order to help mitigate the impact of the water stress and lack of adequate forage in the Sahel, the Ministry of Livestock Resources has promised to soon drill at least 15 water holes as well as sell 22,000 MT of crop by-products for use as livestock feed at subsidized prices in most areas of concern. Thus, the circumstances of people and their animals in the northern parts of

2 Burkina Faso will very much depend on how soon and how effectively the relief measures proposed by the Ministry of Livestock Resources are implemented. According to the latest government estimates, some 680,600 people in 17 of 45 provinces, especially in the north, center north and east, are considered the most vulnerable. These extremely impoverished people face serious people face serious difficulties obtaining access to food. In late March, CILSS included the official Burkina Faso statistics in its update cereals production and food security assessments, but FEWS NET believes that further field assessments and price information are required to verify the production deficit and food aid needs. According to government sources, the higher deficit figures of the final assessment reflect the abrupt halt to the rains in mid-august. During the first assessment, conducted in mid-october, farmers were optimistic that the rains might yet return and let crops finish their growth cycles. Most donor partners are currently reviewing the situation, based on the latest government explanation and the recent CILSS update of the official statistics, before deciding whether to respond to the government s appeal for food aid. 1. Current Food Security Status 1.1. Food Availability Most staple foods continue to be available throughout the country. Nevertheless in those areas characterized by poor harvests, many households have begun experiencing serious difficulties meeting their daily food needs. In several areas, especially in the north and Sahel regions, some households have already used up all their own food stocks already. As a result, they have no alternative but to turn to the market for their regular food supplies. Unfortunately, some markets in northern rural areas are not well supplied, owing to the combined effect of poor road conditions, high poverty rates, and poor economic incentives for cereal traders. In March, sources from the Ministry of Agriculture considered that at least 17 of 45 provinces faced various degrees of food availability/accessibility problems. The Ministry of Social Affairs has agreed to allocate at least 4,083 MT of cereals (millet, maize, and sorghum) for free distribution to the needy families in these provinces. Provinces where free food distribution will take place include: 1. Center region: Oubritenga and Ganzourgou Provinces; 2. Center East: Kouritenga Province; 3. Center North: Sanmatenga, Namentenga and Bam Province; 4. North region: Passore, Yatenga, Zandoma and Lorum Province; 5. East: Komandjari, Tapoa, and Gnagna Province; and 6. Sahel: Soum, Oudalan, Seno, and Yagha Province. Meanwhile, off-season market gardening activities are still on going in those localities where water continues to be available. In Kadiogo, Oubritenga, Yatenga and Passore, in particular, farmers are reportedly taking advantage of available residual soil moisture to grow a number of legume and vegetable crops. These include potatoes, tomatoes, onions, cabbage, peppers, and lettuce. Off-season agricultural activities have come to a standstill, on the other hand, in 2

3 Seno, Soum, Lorum, Oudalan, Sanmatenga and Namentenga Provinces due to the severe lack of water. This weakens the ability of households there to obtain alternative sources of income Food Accessibility Millet prices in January and February 2001 were either similar or below the average in the three major reference markets, Bobo, Dedougou, and Ouagadougou (Figure 1). One reason for such relative stability is that Dedougou constitutes a nassembly market for most of the surplus-producing provinces in the Mouhoun region. In addition, both Bobo and Ouaga constitute the two largest food redistribution centers in the country. Because of these market functions, supplies of cereal and other food commodities tend to match or exceed the level of demand expressed by consumers in these localities. Figure 1. Millet prices in selected markets for January and February 2001 compared to average ( ) Jan Ave Feb Ave Jan-01 Feb-01 FCFA Bobo Dedougou Ouga Dori Kaya Ouahigouya Fada Source: SIM A similar comparison of millet prices in other markets around the country specificially in Ouahigouya, Kaya, Fada, and Dori markets shows a mixed pattern. Both Fada and Kaya markets show seasonal price increases during early 2001, but these are below the average prices for the corresponding months. Millet prices in Ouahigouya market increased between January and February, although price levels are near the averages for those months. The most worrisome situation is in Dori, where price increases are larger than average and where current prices exceed average prices. Generally, the prices observed so far in the selected markets appear to indicate a less severe food security crisis with the exception of Dori than that indicated by the official production estimates. FEWS NET strongly recommends that government and donor representatives 3

4 investigate conditions in some of the northern and Sahelian areas and assess more precisely the levels of household food insecurity, especially to determine if any assistance is required. It is further recommended that these investigations give highest priority to Dori where millet prices in early 2001 are the most worrying, as well as other market areas such as Djibo, Markoye and Sebba. 2. Hazard Information 2.1. Hazard information No.1: Update on the livestock situation in the Sahel region Forage and water are increasingly becoming very scarce in the Sahelian north. Consequently, many herders and agro-pastoralists are very concerned whether they and their animals will be able to survive under such conditions before the next rainy season begins in April. In the wake of these concerns, the Minister of Livestock Resources undertook in mid-march several visits to the affected areas to better understand the nature and magnitude of the problem. During these visits, the Minister informed the populations that the Ministry of Livestock Resources would be soon making available as much as 22,000 MT of food crop by-products for livestock consumption. These by-products are to be sold at a subsidized price of 3,900 CFA Francs per 50 kg-bag. In addition, the Minister promised that about 15 major boreholes would be drilled along the transhumance routes in order to provide most animals with adequate water. The fate of the animals as well as the economic welfare of the populations in the Sahel and northern regions very much depends on how soon these relief measures proposed by the Ministry of Livestock Resources can be implemented. Time is short and the sooner these measures can be put in place, the better Hazard information No.2: Update on the Burkinabè migrants returning from Ivory Coast In mid-march, the Ministry of Social Affairs reported that about 30,000 Burkinabè migrants had fled to Burkina Faso, following the violence which erupted in Ivory Coast several months ago. Even larger numbers have been reported in press accounts. Among these returnees, about 85% were women and infants. The Burkina-based families of these returnees have lost remittance income, the impact of which needs to be more precisely determined. In spite of such a relatively large number of returnees, the Ministry of Social Affairs said the Government, with the assistance from development partners, should provide them with most basic necessities, such as health services, food and education. Although their families will accommodate most returnees, the Ministry of Social Welfare has stated that it will assist in some cases with housing. So far, the problem of returnees appears to be under control. More seriously, if the flow of returnees continues, important sources of remittance income will be lost for food insecure families, which facilitate access to food when productive shortfalls occur. This food security hazard requires close monitoring. 3. Vulnerability update: Highly food insecure zones or localities The Ministry of Social Affairs classified 17 of 45 provinces as highly food insecure in mid-march. These provinces are approximately the same as those shown on the map in last month s Food Security Update. Consequently, FEWSNET recommends that field visits be jointly carried out 4

5 by both the government services and donor representatives to assess and propose what, if any, assistance might be required in those provinces. 4. Update on Government Response Plans The CONASUR («Comité National de Secours d Urgence et de Réhabilitation») is mandated to handle free food distribution and rehabilitation of populations during emergency situations. In March, official statistics released from indicated that 1,270 MT of food commodities had been dispatched since February for free distribution. The CONASUR will have to carefully target this assistance in those provinces where people are considered the worst affected by the on-going food insecurity. The food shares going to these provinces were as follows: Passoré, 280 MT; Zandoma, 130 MT; Soum, 290 MT; Lorum, 110 MT; and Yatenga, 460 MT. Official tenders for more cereal supplies are reportedly under discussion. 5