BURKINA FASO (20 May)
Seasonal rains commenced in late April/ May in the southern part of the country, allowing land preparation to start. Availability of seeds may be limited in the northern regions hard hit last year by desert locust invasion and poor rainfall.
Following release of the final 2004 cereal production figures, the aggregate cereal production is estimated at 2.9 million tonnes, which is close to the average of the previous five years but 19 percent below the record crop harvested in 2003. Millet prices continue to rise, while livestock prices have been falling, reducing access to main food staples for vulnerable households, notably pastoral and agro-pastoral groups, which were hit especially hard. The Government took emergency measures including free distribution and subsidized sales in affected communities. Although the operation helped improve somewhat the food situation in affected communities, the impact on cereal prices remains limited, and the food situation of an estimated 1.6 million people at risk of food shortages needs to be closely monitored.
Commercial imports of cereals in the marketing year ending in October 2005 are forecast at about 197 300 tonnes.