Minimal food insecurity in most rural areas of the country
KEY MESSAGES
Based on estimates by the joint crop assessment, nationwide crop production is expected to surpass the five-year average by 19 percent. With food availability from the latest round of harvests and the positive effects of good conditions in pastoral areas, most rural areas of the country will experience Minimal food insecurity (IPC Phase 1) through December.
However, large shortfalls from harvests of rainfed cereal crops in parts of Guidimakha, Gorgol, and Brakna have curtailed seasonal cereal availability and reduced wage income from farm labor. Thus, poor households in these areas will be facing Stressed acute food insecurity outcomes (IPC Phase 2) between January and March of next year.
The sharp improvement in environmental conditions with the rainfall activity in early November in the northern reaches of the country has led to a new outbreak of locust infestations. In spite of the National Locust Control Center’s (CNLA) increased control measures, pressure from locust populations could be a source of concern between November and January and pose a serious threat to flood-recession crops.