NIGERIA (30 May)
Rains started in the south in early March, allowing land preparation and plantings of the first maize crop. They reached northern areas in late April/early May where they permitted planting of coarse grains. Paddy output is forecast to increase this year reflecting higher producer prices due to a rise in import duties imposed by the Government, which also set up a national rice security task force to boost local rice production.
The overall food supply situation is stable. However, some population groups, estimated to number some 750 000 people in the states of Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba remain food insecure following ethnic and religious conflicts in the last two years.