World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

This bulletin provides information on price changes for the most commonly consumed staples and their potential impacts on the cost of the basic food basket.

The Liberia Market Information System (LMIS) is a component of the Liberia Food Security Monitoring System (FSNMS). Its purpose is to monitor and analyze commodity prices in order to inform stakeholders: of food price changes over time, at different locations and in different seasons; and how prices of staples change relative to other local commodities that are key sources of income for vulnerable households.

Atypical drought conditions in the US causes wheat, maize and soya prices to soar (figure 1). According to data record-ed by the World Bank in July 2012, wheat increased by 50%, maize by 45% and soya by 30% since mid-June 2012. By contrast, rice prices remained stable until July 2012. Compared to the 5-year average, maize, soya and wheat increased by 59%, 44% and 31%, respectively, and rice increased only by 8%. A new bullish phase in inter-national markets could impact regional markets and the food access of West African households already affected by the current nutrition and food crisis.

The Liberia Market Information System (LMIS) is a component of the Liberia Food Security Monitoring System (FSNMS). Its purpose is to monitor and analyze commodity prices in order to inform stakeholders: of food price changes over time, at different locations and in different seasons; and how prices of staples change relative to other local commodities that are key sources of income for vulnerable households.

The overall objective of the assessment is to gain a robust understanding of the impacts of rising food and fuel prices on three population groups:

• Urban and peri‐urban poor households,
• Rural households in communities hosting Ivorian refugees/ Ivorian refugee households,
• Households from an agricultural productive area with established markets and food insecure non‐refugee affected households.

The countries covered by the study include Benin, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal. Fieldwork took place from May to December 2010.The study is based on analysis of secondary data from national market information systems. Meetings took place with producers, consumers, traders, and technical staff. Debriefing meetings took place with key stakeholders in the different countries.

The Liberia Market Information System (LMIS) is a component of the Liberia Food Security Monitoring System (FSNMS). Its purpose is to monitor and analyze commodity prices in order to inform stakeholders: of food price changes over time, at different locations and in different seasons; and how prices of staples change relative to other local commodities that are key sources of income for vulnerable households.

The end of the conflicts in Liberia and Sierra Leone has led to an increase in agricultural production and trade. Recent market monitoring activities in both countries have identified cross-border trade as a factor affecting aggregate and household food security. This study aims to further investigate the issue, thereby contributing to a better knowledge of the determinants of household food security. This report offers an overview of the main cross-border trade flows, an analysis of the market actor’s characteristics and a discussion of the link between cross-border trade and household food security.

The Liberia Market Information System (LMIS) is a component of the Liberia Food Security Monitoring System (FSNMS). Its purpose is to monitor and analyze commodity prices in order to inform stakeholders: of food price changes over time, at different locations and in different seasons; and how prices of staples change relative to other local commodities that are key sources of income for vulnerable households.

This bulletin provides members of the regional-level Food Security and Nutrition and decision-makers in West Africa with an overview of the food security situation, including the impliaction of international and sub-regional market trends. On West African ma