"In view of the above-average harvest of cereals forecast in West Africa, what measures can be taken to facilitate access to food without discouraging farmers?"
The 2008-2009 growing season was characterized by good rainfall generally well distributed over space and time. The cereal production for this growing season is estimated at 54 million metric tons including 9 million metric tons of rice and 45 million metric tons of dry land cereals for the Sahel and West Africa. The Sahelian cereal production is estimated at 15 500 0001 metric tons. This represents an increase of 21% and 24% compared to last year (2007/2008) and the average of the past 5 years, respectively.
Rice production increased substantially in almost all Sahelian countries. Observers note an average increase of 34% in 2008, an increase of more than 530,000 metric tons compared to 2007. High global market prices encouraged cereal production, particularly rice. Governments also provided incentives, allowing support and capacity building for farmers through specific programs to boost agricultural production, subsidies, the free distribution of agricultural inputs and favorable taxation.
Market Situation:
Markets are currently well supplied. Local cereal prices are still well above the seasonal average, despite harvest season declines observed in October and November 2008. This applies particularly to rice, for which local prices remain high in spite of the global downward trend in prices. Higher cereal prices can benefit farmers and drive the revitalization of local production, but they also constrain food access of poor households, both urban and rural.
In view of the significant increase in food commodity prices recorded in 2008, some West African countries have adopted measures restricting and even banning exports in spite of regional ECOWAS and UEMOA free trade agreements. These measures inhibit commodity flow between surplus and deficit areas.