More than two million people are facing a food crisis situation in Burkina Faso due to a drop in the country’s cereal production. In 2021, it thus decreased by 10% compared to the previous year. The difference between demand and production is 539,000 tons, according to a report from the Ministry of Agriculture published on Wednesday, which speaks of the largest cereal deficit for five years.
As a result, “the cereals available cover the consumption needs of the population at 93%” at the national level, specifies the ministry in its report. But the disparities between the regions remain strong. Those in the east and north of the country, particularly affected by jihadist attacks and whose supply is complex, are the most at risk.
Climate shocks and insecurity
Of the 2.3 million people threatened by this food crisis, 323,000 are in emergency for the period from March to May 2022. A figure that could approach 3.5 million during the lean season between harvests. More than half of agricultural households (52%) “will not be able to cover cereal needs with their own production” and will therefore have to resort to imports, in a context of rising prices, in particular due to the conflict in Ukraine .
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, these poor harvests are due both to climatic shocks – long dry spells, floods – causing a general drop in yields and to abandonment of land due to insecurity.