According to the CFSVA and Nutrition survey conducted in March and April 2012 just before season B harvest, 460,000 households (21per cent) had unacceptable food consumption and may be considered food insecure (4 per cent poor and 17 per cent borderline food consumption).
Since then, overall agricultural production for season B 2012 is estimated to have increased by 5 per cent compared to season B 2011. An increase in planted areas has compensated lower yields of beans and maize caused by irregular rainfall during the planting and the growing season. In addition this season is reported to have been good for bananas and tubers. In August 2012, real prices of maize, sweet potatoes and Irish potatoes were 13 per cent, 45 per cent and 21 per cent above than the 5 year average while prices for beans and cassava were the same if not below average (3 and -12per cent respectively).
As we move into the lean season, many households will run out of food stocks from the previous harvest, and staple food prices are expected to rise until the next harvest in November-December. Food insecurity rates are expected to rise during this period.
October 2012
