THE World Bank predicts persistent insecurity, armed conflict, and deteriorating livelihoods will persist in Borno, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara, and the far north of Adamawa until May 2024.
The global bank’s latest ‘Food Security Update’ revealed that poor macroeconomic conditions in the country are limiting access to agricultural inputs, potentially impacting cereal production.
West and Central Africa’s cereal production for 2023/24 is projected to be 76.5 million tons, a 2% decrease from the previous season but a 3% rise from the last five years.
Chad, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria are anticipated to be the most significant contributors to this decline.
The Bretton Woods institution predicts a decline in crop production in Chad, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria due to dry spells, insecurity, and poor macroeconomic conditions.
Most sub-regional areas are expected to remain minimally food insecure from November to May 2024, with some areas classified as stressed and some in crisis.
It added: “Over the same period (November to May 2024), Crisis (IPC Phase 3) conditions, mainly caused by persistent insecurity and armed conflict, and deteriorating livelihoods, are projected to affect the following regions: Nigeria: Local government areas in Borno, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara states, and the far north of Adamawa State.”
The other places this will affect include places in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, and Niger.
The World Bank reported high inflation in low- and middle-income countries between August and November. Food price inflation data from August to November 2023 shows high inflation in low- and middle-income countries, with inflation higher than 5% in 61.9% of low-income countries, 76.1% in lower-middle-income countries, 50.0% in upper-middle-income countries, and 56.4% in high-income countries.
Food price inflation has outpaced overall inflation in 167 countries, with Africa, North America, Latin America, South Asia, Europe, and Central Asia being the most affected.
Nigeria’s headline inflation reached 28.20% in November, while food inflation soared to 32.84%.