With recent military strikes, physical and economic access to markets is expected to be further limited in the North, with potential upward pressure on food commodity prices there.
Coarse grain price levels in Q4-2012 remain above average in Mali, especially in the conflict affected northern Mali, which is a food deficit area. Coarse grain prices have nonetheless eased in the aftermath of the recent above-average harvest in Mali, after reaching very high levels during the 2012 lean season.
The 2011/12 cereal price hikes eased with the end-2012 harvest in Mali...
Mali is usually near to self-sufficiency in coarse grains supplies. However, the country suffered a drought in 2011 which affected local cereal production and led to a spike in prices in 2011-2012. From late 2011 onwards, coarse grain prices increased sharply by 80-100% above average in many markets during the lean season (June-September 2012). In late 2012 and early 2013 cereal prices eased due to good harvest following the good seasonal rains in 2012. CILSS estimates that 2012/13 local grain production is 36%above the five year average*. As a result, grain prices have trended downward with the arrival of new crops on the markets. As of early January 2013 – before military operations resumed - grain prices had been returning to historic levels in most markets in Mali.
