The USAID Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET) (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: jsedgo@fews.net STATE OF FOOD SECURITY IN BURKINA FASO FEWS NET UPDATE FOR December 2000-January, 2001 Prepared by J. Sedgo, FEWSNET, Burkina Faso January 25, 2001 Highlights In spite of the national production deficit estimated at more than 230,000 MT, most cereals and other food commodities continue to be available throughout the country in this post-harvest period. In addition, farmers in various localities are busy with their off-season crop production activities. By increasing food supplies and providing household income, these efforts should help reduce the food consumption gap. With respect to food access conditions, results of a survey carried out by FEWS NET as well as price data from the Market Information System (SIM, Ministry of Agriculture) suggest that households in the North and Sahel Regions are facing serious difficulties obtaining adequate food commodities. On the other hand, prices recorded elsewhere are lower than 1995-99 average prices, implying that households in these areas have relatively good access to food. In the North Region as well as in the Sahel, people and animals have been hard hit by the abrupt halt of rainfall in mid-august. There is hardly enough water to drink, let alone for off-season agricultural production. This situation, combined with the very limited availability of forage, could seriously compromise the fate of livestock in these regions. In response, the Government of Burkina Faso has recently launched a livestock relief program that involves drilling supplementary wells and making adequate feed available to ensure the survival of the animals. The Government of Burkina Faso and the Republic of China will share the cost of this program, estimated at about 600 million CFA francs.. Populations in potentially vulnerable zones are also at increased risk, according to a recent FEWS NET assessment. The informal review suggests that populations in a
number of locations may soon face high food insecurity unless appropriate assistance is given without delay. Locations that fall in this category include: Center Region: most departments in Oubritenga province Center East Region: Ouenga, Kando, Kodwemdé, Andemtenga, Pissi, Soalga, Kobdin, Songretenga, Tankwensé, and Zougo Sahel Region, Seno Province: Bani, Gorgadji, and Falangountou Sahel Region, Soum Province: Djibo, Baraboulé, and Tongomael Sahel Region, Oudalan Province: Gorom, Oursi, Tin-Akoff Sahel Region, Yagha Province: Titabe, Tangoukounadjié (Higa), Sebba, and Solhan North Region: Kaïn, Bahn, Kalsaka, and Rambo 1. Current Food Security Status 1.1. Food Availability Cereals as well as other food commodities continue to be available throughout the country. Indeed, most households apparently still have enough cereals following the recent harvests to meet their regular consumption needs. Nevertheless, in some localities, informed sources suggest that available stocks at the household level probably won t last for the remainder of the consumption year (November-October). In particular, this seems to be the case for several locations in the Center, Center North, North, and Sahel Regions. Farmers in many areas of the country are busy with off-season crop production activities. The main crops include onions, carrots, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, as well as a host of other legumes and vegetables. These crops should help boost supplies in the wake of crop production deficits caused by the early and abrupt withdrawal of the rains in mid-august. In contrast, in the North and Sahel Regions, off-season crop production appeared to be very limited due to low water levels in catchments, rivers, and dams. Consequently, food accessibility and to some extent food availability could become a problem in some localities, especially in the poorly accessible areas. Thus, in spite of the reported national production deficit of about 233,500 MT, no major food availability problems have been reported. In localities with very poor harvests, reliable sources indicate that some households may have started skipping meals as a way to stretch out their food stocks. (For more details, see Section 2.3.] 1.2. Food Accessibility Analysis of price data and informal FEW NET interviews suggest that food access conditions continued to be reasonably affordable in most parts of the country, except for the Sahel (Dori) and Eastern (Fada N gourma) Regions. In a telephone survey of several agricultural offices in the Center, North, and Sahel Regions conducted in mid- January, FEWS NET learned that millet prices in some localities were significantly higher this year than last year at the same period (Table 1). Among the localities that 2
participated in the survey, the largest price increases mainly occurred in Seno (56 percent), Soum (54 percent), Oudalan (44 percent), and Yagha (67 percent) provinces. These higher prices appear to be consistent with the very poor quantity of crops these localities harvested earlier in the season. Higher prices, other factors equal, suggest that most average households in the Sahel are worse off this year in terms of their access to food staples compared to one year ago. The fact that the market prices for animals also appear to be lower compared to prices one year ago could weaken food access of agro-pastoral and pastoralist households in both the North and Sahel Regions. The very limited availability of water and forage could also have a detrimental effect on livestock, the major source of income for populations in the Sahel Region. Table 1. Millet Nominal Price Increases in selected Markets between December 1999 and December 2000 Locality/PROVINCE December 1999 Price (CFA F per Kilogram) December 2000 Percent Increase Dori, SENO 125 80 56 Djibo, SOUM 108 70 54 Gorom, OUDALAN 130 90 44 Sebba, YAGHA 125 75 67 Ouahigouya, YATENGA 102 90 13 Ziniaré, OUBRITENGA 126 105 20 Source: Field Offices, Ministry of Agriculture A similar analysis of price data for other markets from the Système d Information des Marchés (SIM) shows that millet prices continued to be lower than 1995-99 average prices (Figure 1). This information suggests that food access conditions continued to be reasonably affordable in most parts of the country, except for the Sahel (Dori) and Eastern (Fada N gourma) Regions where millet prices were higher than average. These prices are consistent with the results obtained earlier by FEWS NET via the telephone survey. 3
170 Figure 1. Interannual Millet Price Trends in Reference Markets 150 130 CFA Francs/kg 110 90 70 50 30 Bobo Dioulasso Dedougou Dori Fada N'gourma Kaya Ouahigouya Ouagadougou Dec 1998 159.75 85.33 104.67 97.00 95.25 99.25 115.25 Dec 1999 124.20 82.80 102.50 73.00 88.60 95.20 118.80 Dec 2000 118.67 78.00 135.50 111.50 104.00 104.50 110.75 Ave 1995-99 126.89 84.96 115.83 92.20 108.97 101.59 124.11 FEWS NET/Burkina Faso Source: SIM 2. Hazard Information 2.1. Lack of water and forage is causing a severe hardship for pastoral and agro-pastoral populations in the North and Sahel Regions The early halt of rainfall this past season deprived most water catchments and water points of adequate water levels. This situation is considered worse in the North and Sahel Regions, in particular. As a result, most pastoral and agropastoral populations are reportedly having serious difficulties finding enough water to meet their needs. In addition, livestock, the main asset and source of income for agropastoralists, cannot find adequate forage. This has caused many pastoral and agropastoral populations to begin their yearly transhumance journey with their herds and flocks long before the normal period. According to sources in the Ministry of Livestock Resources, these severe water and forage limitations could affect as much as 80 percent and 55 percent of the country s small ruminant and cattle populations, respectively. In absolute terms, this represents an order of 11.7 million and 2.6 million animals, respectively. 4
2.2. Burkinabè migrants fleeing political turmoil in Ivory Coast continue to arrive in Burkina Faso As a result of recent political turmoil in Ivory Coast, including violence directed against non-ivorian nationals, Burkina Faso has received an influx of as many as 300,000 Burkinabè returnees during December and January, according to press reports. Many of those Burkinabè said that they had been deprived of all their goods and personal belongings at periodic checkpoints and had arrived homedesperate and destitute. About 3 million Burkinabè regularly live in Ivory Coast under normal conditions. If this population were forced to return at the same time, the country would suddenly be faced with serious food insecurity, health, education, and unemployment problems. For the time being, most returnees are being well received and reintegrated in their respective families. FEWSNET will continue monitoring this situation as further information becomes available. 2.3. FEWS NET identifies highly food insecure zones or localities Sources from the provincial agricultural offices (DRA and DPA) reported that households in various locations are currently facing serious difficulties in meeting their daily food consumption needs. For instance, some families are reportedly skipping a meal or two so as to extend their remaining food stocks. As of January, provinces or localities falling in this category of high food insecurity included: Center Region: most departments in Oubritenga Province Center East Region: Ouenga, Kando, Kodwemdé, Andemtenga, Pissi, Soalga, Kobdin, Songretenga, Tankwensé, and Zougo Sahel Region, Seno Province: Bani, Gorgadji, and Falangountou Sahel Region, Soum Province: Djibo, Baraboulé, and Tongomael Sahel Region, Oudalan Province: Gorom, Oursi, Tin-Akoff Sahel Region, Yagha Province: Titabe, Tangoukounadjié (Higa), Seba, and Solhan North Region: Kaïn, Bahn, Kalsaka, and Rambo 3. Response Plan Updates In response to the ongoing difficulties described in this report, the Government of Burkina Faso has recently launched a national livestock relief program to help prevent major animal losses due to severe water and forage limitations in the North and Sahel regions. The Governments of Burkina Faso and the Republic of China are expected to share the cost of this program, which is estimated at about 600 million CFA francs. The money will help pay for drilling supplementary wells while providing adequate feed to meet most animal health and production needs. In addition to this effort, the Government, through the Ministry for the Promotion of Women, recently distributed food and clothing to the most needy populations in Sanmatenga, Bam, Seno, Yagha, and Oudalan Provinces. The clothing was an 5
additional gift from the Ministry to boost the morale of those dealing with the ongoing hardships caused by high food insecurity. Meanwhile, the Government, aided by NGOs and other private philanthropic groups, has been making every effort to facilitate the return of the Burkinabè migrants who fled the recent ethnic violence in Ivory Coast. 6