Monitoring food security in countries with conflict situations
This report aims to provide an overview of the food security situation in conflict-affected countries and to provide regular monitoring of the food security situation in the countries currently being monitored by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The analysis takes into consideration the...
Enhancing the potential of family farming for poverty reduction and food security through gender-sensitive rural advisory services
This paper is based on an examination of a broad selection of existing literature on the subject of gender-sensitive rural advisory services (RAS) and has four objectives. The first is to document gender-differentiated barriers in access to RAS and the challenges of effectively targeting women...
FAO/GIEWS quarterly report ‘Crop Prospects and Food Situation’
The latest issue of the Crop Prospect and Food Situation quarterly report, which focuses on developments affecting the food situation of developing countries and low-income food-deficit countries, has been released. The report also includes an overview of global cereal production prospects and a table highlighting countries that require external assistance for food, identifying the primary causes of the local food crises.
Highlights of the report:
- Countries in need of external assistance: FAO estimates that 37 countries are in need of external assistance for food. Civil conflict continues to be a main driver of severe food insecurity, triggering famine in South Sudan and putting populations at high risk of localized famine in Yemen and northern Nigeria. Weather shocks have also impinged on food availability and access, and have in particular compounded the fragile situation in Somalia where famine conditions continue to be a threat.
- Africa: Severe food insecurity persists in northern Nigeria and Somalia, while South Sudan remains in the grip of famine. Dry conditions lowered 2017 production prospects in parts of East Africa, while outputs in Southern Africa are forecast to rebound strongly.
- Asia: Drought in Sri Lanka resulted in a sharp drop in the 2017 paddy output, while recent floods caused extensive damage. Conflicts continue to intensely impact agriculture and food security in Iraq and in the Syrian Arab Republic, while in Yemen localized famine remains a critical risk.
- Latin America and the Caribbean: Record cereal outputs forecast in Argentina and Brazil in 2017, with production prospects generally favourable in Central American countries, although the possibility of an El Niño developing raises some concern.
The report can be accessed through the following link:
http://www.fao.org/3/a-i7402e.pdf.
Public purchases of food from family farming, and food and nutrition security in Latin America and the Caribbean
This book, prepared by the Brazil-FAO International Cooperation Program, presents the most important lessons learned from the experiences currently underway in the region, which serve as guidelines for countries that wish to create or improve public procurement programmes. The book also analyzes the...
Strengthening sector policies for better food security and nutrition results: Policy Guidance Series
Achieving the food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture goals by 2030 requires a coordinated set of actions on a number of fronts: coherent policies and programmes, an increase of investments in line with national priorities and greater collaboration across different sectors and...
FAO/GIEWS monthly report on food price trends
The latest issue of the FPMA Bulletin FAO/GIEWS monthly report on food price trends at world, regional and country level with a focus on countries where prices of one or more basic food commodity are at abnormal high levels in main markets.
Main highlights of this issue are the general decline of wheat and maize prices in the international market; while at sub-regional level, the further increase in cereal prices in East Africa and in the Southern Hemisphere countries the downward pressure on maize prices exerted by overall favourable production prospects in 2017
Key Messages
- Wheat prices generally declined in April, on account of ample supplies and generally favourable outlook for the 2017 harvest. Export prices of maize remained under downward pressure, mainly reflecting expectations of bumper crops in Southern Hemisphere countries. By contrast, international rice prices increased, supported by a rebound in trade activity, especially due to accelerated sales to countries of the Near East.
- In East Africa, cereal prices rose further in April and reached record or near‑record levels in most countries. Prices were underpinned by tight supplies, following drought-reduced 2016 second season outputs, and uncertain prospects for the upcoming 2017 harvests due to drier‑than‑average conditions and armyworm infestation affecting key‑growing areas.
- In Southern Hemisphere countries, favourable maize production prospects kept domestic prices under downward pressure in April and below their year-earlier levels. In Brazil, where a bumper first season crop is being harvested, maize prices declined sharply in April and averaged some 40 percent lower than a year earlier. In South Africa, expectations of a near‑record output pushed down white maize prices for the fourth consecutive month to less than half their year-earlier levels.
The report can be accessed through the following link:
http://www.fao.org/3/a-i7230e.pdf.
Global Early Warning – Early Action Report on Food Security and Agriculture
The quarterly Global Early Warning – Early Action Report on Food Security and Agriculture monitors situations at risk for potential disasters and adverse impacts on food security and agriculture. Risks are categorized according to their potential consequence as either “high risk” or “on watch” so...
Global Report on Food Crises 2017
The European Union, WFP and FAO have joined forces to coordinate the compilation of analyses to increase the impact of humanitarian and resilience responses through the preparation of the “Global report on Food Crises”. The Global Report enhances coordination and decision-making through a neutral...
Europe and Central Asia: Regional Overview of Food Insecurity 2016
Part I of this year’s edition of the State of Food Insecurity in Europe and Central Asia is devoted to the theme of how the nature of food insecurity has evolved in the region over the past 23 years. The familiar four pillars of food security are used to demonstrate how the character of food...
Africa Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition 2016: the Challenges of Building Resilience to Shocks and Stresses
Since 2015, Sub-Saharan Africa has experienced severe climate-induced disruptions as a result of the El Niño weather phenomenon. The severity and extent of the ongoing El Niño, with its related droughts and floods have been considered the worst since the turn of the century, and have affected the...