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Mali Key Message Update, August 2018

Countries
Mali
Sources
FEWS NET
Publication date
Origin
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Ongoing humanitarian assistance is alleviating food difficulties in the current lean season

Key Messages

  • The current agricultural season is expected to be average across the country thanks to the return of rains at the beginning of August. Overall, the lower than usual productive planting areas due to poor rains at the start of the agricultural season and the losses from pests have reduced cereal yields in some places. Good rain is expected until September, which will increase overall national production to near or above-average this year.

  • The availability of cereals remains sufficient throughout the country. The increase in cereal prices by 15 to 30 percent above average and the decrease in terms of trade for livestock/cereals negatively affects the ability of poor households to access markets, particularly in the pastoral areas of Gourma, the Niger River Delta, and the western Sahel.

  • Poor households in the Goundam Lakes area, in Gourma, areas in the interior Niger River Delta, and the western Sahel have resorted to atypical coping strategies for agricultural labor, borrowing, and reduction in food and non-food expenditures, due to the poor agricultural production in 2017 and the decrease in agricultural and pastoral incomes. This places these areas in Stressed! (IPC Phase 2!) thanks to ongoing food and non-food humanitarian assistance.

  • Poor households that have been affected by flooding since the end of July, and it is estimated that more than a thousand people are facing difficulties meeting their food and non-food needs (rebuilding their livelihoods) due to losses of their livelihoods. As a result, they will be facing Stressed (IPC Phase 2) until October.