(2011) Price Monitoring and Analysis Country Brief: Haiti, January-April 2011

Food Security Information for Decision Making www.foodsec.org European Union Price Monitoring and Analysis Country Brief Haiti January-April 2011 Key Messages Prices have continued to show an upward trend since December 2010 and remained at very high levels in the subsequent months of 2011. Nominal local rice price may soon approach the level observed in 2008. Food security situation is particularly worrisome for poor and very poor households in regions hit by weather shocks in 2010. An estimated 3 million people require food aid during the current lean season. The socio-political situation has been uncertain in recent months which, coupled with high food prices and the cholera epidemic, has adversely affected the food security conditions. Food and cash for work programmes are implemented with the help of international agencies. Background The total population of Haiti is around 10 million with a 1% annual growth rate. The undernourished population reached 57% while 54% lives below the poverty line. The proportion of the population with access to improved sanitation is 17%. Economic Indicators Total Population (millions) - 2009 (WB) View Data 10.033 Food Consumption Undernourished Population - 2005/2007 (FAO) 57% Population growth rate - 2009 (WB) 1% Cereal share in total dietary energy consumption - 2007 (FAO) 46% GNI per capita, $ PPP n.a. Meat share in total dietary energy consumption - 2007 (FAO) 4% Population below 1$ PPP per day - 2001 (MDGI) 54% Rural population - 2009 (WB) 51% Agriculture, value added (% of GDP) - 2003 (WB) 27% Prices In Port-au-Prince, local rice prices increased between Dec and April (5%) to 91.88 Gourdes/Kg. Imported rice prices increased by 20% between Dec and Jan, but then dropped to 40.42 Gourdes/kg in April. In the same period, local and imported maize prices fell by 12% and 6% respectively. Local maize was stable at 22.05 Gourdes/Kg since Feb, while imported maize was at 40.42 in April. In Jacmel, local rice prices increased by 10% to 121.27 Gourdes/Kg in April; imported rice prices declined, but remained high at 50.54. Also local maize price increased (15%) while imported maize prices remained stable at 44.1. Imported rice prices in March were 147% higher than rice Thai A1 Super. Health Indicators Pop. with sustainable access to improved sanitation - 2008 (WHO) 17% Life expectancy at birth (years) both sexes - 2008 (WHO) 62 Pop. with access to improved drinking water sources - 2008 (WHO) 63% Prevalence of HIV among adults aged >= 15 years - 2009 (WHO) 1.9% Food Security Situation Assessment According to FEWSNET, with the lean season from March to June, the food security situation for poor and very poor households is particularly difficult in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, in the southern peninsula, in the north western region and in the Artibonite valley. GIEWS estimates severe and localized food insecurity with over 3 million people (30% of the total population) in need food assistance in AprilMay. The majority of food-insecure households are mostly in areas affected by the cholera epidemic and Hurricane Tomas. FAO Hunger map highlights very high prevalence of undernourishment and IFPRI reports an alarming situation of hunger in Haiti. CURRENT EMERGENCY ASSESMENT Exceptional shortfall Widespread lack of in aggregate food access production supplies Severe localized food insecurity FAO/GIEWS CPFS 2010 March marks the beginning of the lean season, which runs until FEWSNET June. The poor and very poor households in the slums of the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, the southern peninsula, northwest and Artibonite are encountering difficulties to meet basic ... more SCALE OF HUNGER (% of Undernourishment) Very high (>= 35%) High (25-34%) Moderately Moderately high (15-24%) low (5-14%) Very low FAO (< 5% under.) Hunger Map FAO Hunger Map classifies all countries of the world into five based on % of population undernourished. Extremely alarming Source: GIEWS Country Briefs Alarming Serious Moderate Low IFPRI/2010 GHI Food Security Information for Decision Making www.foodsec.org European Union Haiti Vegetation Condition Food Balance Sheet At the beginning of the rainy season, a very contrasted situation is observed ranging from very poor to very good conditions with some concerns in the provinces of Ouest, Nord-Ouest and NordEst. The general indicator of vegetation condition provided below is the relative difference between the NDVI for April 2011 and the average of the last 10 years, calculated on the agricultural zones derived from the GLOBCOVER 2005 database (ESA). Crop production in 2010 suffered from the earthquake devastation and from Hurricane Tomas. Moreover the cholera outbreak had extremely affected labour force. Rice harvest in Artibonite and the southwest, due in April-May, is expected to be some 20-30% below average. Total production was at 502,000T,9% below 2009 output and 8% below average. Imports requirements are put at 636,000 MT for the 2010/11 marketing year (June/July), almost the same level of 2009/10. Source: GIEWS Country Briefs Source: JRC MARS – FoodSec Government Policies Crop phase in the reference period Sowing Beans - Maize - Rice Growing Beans - Maize Harvesting Beans - Sorghum Natural Disasters, Drought and Conflicts The country underwent presidential and legislative elections in March. Mr Martelly, the new president, will take office by midMay. The international community raised concern over allegations of fraud in final results of legislative elections. The president has asked for an independent verification of legitimacy. Refugees and IDPs Total in the country Total outside the country 2007 2008 Consumer and market oriented measures n.a. Producer oriented measures Stabilize oil prices Trade policy measures n.a. Safety net (increased or introduced) Food and cash work programmes 2009 2 3 23 32539 35737 36015 Source: UNHCR Statistical Online Population Database, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Data extracted on 01/12/2010. Disaster Type (last year) Due to the uncertain political situation, the Government’s ability to undertake agricultural and food security measures is undermined; however 2.5 million Gourdes from the current fiscal year were allocated to stabilize oil prices in order to support transport costs. Meanwhile the population is assisted by international agencies through cash and food for work programmes. Different sources Current events to watch (Click to see the full report) No News Found For more information, contact: Information-for-action@fao.org Website: www.foodsec.org Date Location Alert Earthquake 2010-11-12 Ouest Province 1/3 Powered By the GIEWS Workstation Earthquake 2010-09-21 Ouest 1/3 The Programme on Linking Information and Decision Making to Improve Food Security is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Flood 2010-11-05 Western Haiti 1/3 Source: Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System - 3 = 1000 or more people killed or 800000 or more people displaced. 2 = 100 or more people killed or 80000 or more displaced.