Famine Early Warning Systems Network

Season A harvests are complete and production is estimated to be near average improving food availability and market supply.  Labor opportunities during the harvest also improved access to income for the poor in most areas. Most households country-wide will remain in Minimal (IPC Phase 1) acute food insecurity through March.    

January prices of the main staple commodities either declined or remained stable over the past month with minor exceptions for banana and sorghum.  Banana and sorghum prices in January increased on average, by 10 percent from December to January. However, all staple food prices remain much higher than average. For example, January maize, sweet potato, and cassava flour prices were more than 50 percent above the five-year average in Bujumbura, Ruyigi and Gitega markets, respectively.

Given above-average staple food prices and expectations that prices will continue to rise, in addition to declining household food stocks as the lean season progresses, the food security situation for the poor is expected to deteriorate to Stressed (IPC Phase 2) during the second quarter, until the beginning of Season B harvest in June.