Change in consumer prices compared with the 5-year average for the main cereals, by country
Note: Variation in main cereal prices compared with the five-year average. Sources: National market information systems, World Food Programme (WFP), FEWS NET
Rising food prices continue to reduce the ability of households to access healthy and nutritious food, which is why they play such a key role in food and nutrition security.
In April 2023, average food inflation was estimated at 22% in the region. This is essentially due to several endogenous factors that are seriously disrupting production and supply systems. These include export bans on food products by some governments, illegal border taxes and a fall in the purchasing power of local currencies in several countries. The impact of the depreciation of local currencies on food prices has been particularly pronounced in the countries of the Gulf of Guinea, with record increases compared to the average over the past five years in Ghana (179% on maize), Sierra Leone (124% on rice) and Nigeria (73% on rice).
By disrupting markets and driving up transport costs, insecurity and violence is also contributing to inflation. In the province of Yagha, in Burkina Faso’s Sahel region, for example, the price of sorghum rose by 254% in February 2023 as a result of worsening attacks, which reduced market supplies, compared with a national annual variation of 17% and a five-year variation of 54%.
(Sources: CILSS (2023), “Impact de la Vie Chère et la Crise Russie-Ukraine sur la sécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle au Sahel et en Afrique de l’Ouest”; PAM-CONAGESS (2023), “Bulletin de suivi des marchés au Burkina Faso”.)