Government moves to ease food concerns

Faced with a poor planting season and grumbling over the high cost of living, the government of Niger has released 20,000 tonnes of cereal onto the market at reduced prices to help offset the country’s lean period. “The president of the republic announced that he was giving instruction for 20,000 tonnes of food to be distributed across the territory at moderate prices,” said Saibou Moussa Kassai, spokesman for the ruling party coalition. He said that an additional 5,000 tonnes of food would be distributed free to people living in the most needy areas. Niger faced a serious food crisis last year triggered by a locust infestation coupled with poor rains. Hundreds of thousands of people across the Sahel region suffered, many of them children. The international community intervened and some humanitarian organisations are still providing assistance. Seasonal rains have been meagre in Niger this year, prompting concern about the delay in the onset of rains among farmers. Few farmers have planted their seeds, whereas usually seedlings have already sprung up. “The situation of the rain seriously worries us this year,” said Issa Hassane, a farmer in the southwestern village of Fadama. “I planted seeds twice. I finished my work but because of the lack of rain the seedlings died. I think there is no other choice but to leave the village with my family to go elsewhere to find something to eat.” The Islamic Council of Niger last week called on Nigeriens to pray collectively for rains. “Usually, in the month of July, we have finished our planting and we would already have gone on to the second phase of our work. But this year, we haven’t even planted the first seeds. And when you know that the season lasts from June to September that is something to worry about,” said Boubacar Alassane a farmer in area of Doutchi, east of the capital Niamey. Many farmers say what worries them most about the food situation is the rise in prices. “Certainly, the situation is not as bad as last year because there is food in the markets, but it is the farmers who don’t have enough money to buy it,” said Abdoulaye Soumana, who lives near Niamey. The price of a sack of millet varies between US $31 and US $35, and sorghum is between US $29 and US $33. This compares with US $58 for millet and US $54 for sorghum in the same period last year. Hoarding by merchants last year drove up prices and exacerbated the food crisis. Observers said food is readily available in markets so far this year. At the end of the 2005-2006 agricultural season, Niger registered a cereal surplus of some 21,000 tonnes. sa/cs/ccr