Following the widespread devastation caused by the 25 April earthquake, the food security situation in Nepal is very dire for large number of people. The devastation caused by the earthquake seriously jeopardized prospects for the forthcoming 2015 summer crops to be planted from late May. Most marketing activities have been severely disrupted, hampering access to food. As of 10 May 2015, at least 8 019 people were confirmed dead,...

International prices of wheat declined in April as 2015 crop prospects in main exporting countries continued to improve. Maize prices remained unchanged, while rice quotations from most origins weakened mainly on account of subdued export demand. In exporter South Africa, domestic maize prices decreased in April, after strong gains since January, pressured by a combination of lower international prices and slightly improved 2015 production prospects. In southern countries of East...

An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission (CFSAM) visited South Sudan from 2 to 14 February 2015 to estimate cereal production during 2014 and assess the overall food security situation. Although there have been notable improvements relative to the first half of 2014, the food security perspectives during 2015 remain a cause for concern. Even though households in non-conflict areas have larger stocks as a result of the 2014...

Food Outlook is published by the Trade and Market Division of FAO under Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS). It is a biannual publication focusing on developments affecting global food and feed markets. Each report provides comprehensive assessments and short term forecasts for production, utilization, trade, stocks and prices on a commodity by commodity basis and includes feature articles on topical issues. Food Outlook maintains a close synergy with...

Maize production in 2015 expected to decline significantly from the bumper output of 2014. Consequently, the subregional maize import requirements are forecast to increase sharply in 2015/16. Maize prices increased in South Africa, the major subregional exporter, by nearly 30 percent since the beginning of the year. Food security improved significantly in 2014/15 following last year’s bumper crop; however, current production prospects raise concern.

Conflict escalation and displacements resulted in serious disruptions in market, trade and livelihood activities, exacerbating the already precarious food insecurity situation in the country. The 2015 cropping season has coincided with the escalation of the conflict thus compromising the outcome. More than half of Yemen’s population (61 percent out of 25.9 million people) is estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance.

International cereal prices remained under downward pressure in March. Overall, quotations were well below their year-earlier levels reflecting ample global supplies. Fluctuations in the exchange rates in March continued to influence cereal price changes in importing and exporting countries of CIS and South America. Weakening national currencies continued to push cereal prices to record levels in several countries or prevent significant price declines, while appreciating currencies put downward pressure on...

Main food crops and agricultural export commodities badly damaged or destroyed. Fishery infrastructure severely impacted. Livelihoods of a large proportion of the country’s population compromised by the impact of the cyclone. International food and agriculture assistance is urgently needed to avoid deterioration of the food security situation.