According to the last CFSAM and IPC analyses, around 1.5 million people are estimated to be food insecure, mostly in the eastern and central areas of the country that are experiencing IPC phase 3 conditions. The main drivers of current food insecurity are low access to land and a decrease of agricultural productivity related to poor weather (especially in the east), low access to agricultural inputs, and plant diseases such as the banana bacterial wilt and cassava brown streak. High food prices are curtailing households’ purchase power, whereas the continuous depreciation of the local currency is driving up the prices of food imports. In particular, prices of the main staple food have risen by 33 per cent (beans); +88 per cent (rice); +71 per cent (maize) and 53 per cent (wheat) from June 2010 through June 2012. The food security situation is expected to further deteriorate, especially for vulnerable households dependent on casual labour. Meanwhile food prices continue to rise; the suspension of duty on food imports is to end in December 2012.
The peak in terms of need of food assistance is expected to be during the current lean season (September-December 2012).
October 2012