Reference Date: 10-June-2026

Planting of 2026 cereal crops underway

In southern and central bimodal rainfall areas, planting of the 2026 main season maize crop was completed in April, while sowing of the rice crop concluded in May. The first rainy season, which typically extends from March to July, generally had an early onset in February, followed by average to above‑average precipitation amounts through the end of May, supporting planting operations and the establishment of early‑planted crops.

In northern unimodal rainfall areas, where the rainy season typically spans from May to September, planting of the 2026 coarse grain and rice crops has recently begun and is expected to be completed by July. Harvesting of these crops is anticipated in the last quarter of 2026.

Civil insecurity is expected to continue disrupting agricultural activities in the departments of Alibori and Atacora, located in the north of the country, likely resulting in localized production shortfalls.

Weather forecasts for the June to August period indicate a high likelihood of near‑average precipitation amounts across most producing areas, likely benefiting crops. In parts of western and southern regions, above‑average rainfall amounts are expected, which may boost yields but also increase the risk of localized flooding.

Cereal output in 2025 estimated at above‑average level

The 2025 aggregate cereal production is officially estimated at about 2.9 million tonnes, approximately 20 percent above the average of the previous five years. The negative impact of the erratic temporal distribution of seasonal rains on yields in some areas was offset by effective support provided to farmers by the government and partner organizations, including the distribution of seeds and fertilizers as well as the provision of input subsidies.

Prices of cereals below year‑earlier values in April 2026

Retail prices of locally‑produced rice and maize remained stable between January and April 2026, while retail prices of local sorghum decreased by up to 30 percent over the same period. In April 2026, prices of rice were about 10 percent below their year‑earlier levels, whereas prices of maize were 25 to 35 percent lower on a yearly basis. Prices of sorghum were up to 45 percent lower year‑on‑year. These relatively low price levels reflect ample carryover stocks and weak external demand, amid the continued implementation of export duties.

About 201 000 people acutely food insecure during 2026 lean season

According to the latest Cadre Harmonisé (CH) analysis, over 201 000 people are projected to face acute food insecurity (CH Phase 3 [Crisis] and above) during the June to August 2026 lean season, including approximately 9 500 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency).

Violence by non-state armed groups continues to affect the departments of Atacora and Alibori, disrupting livelihoods and resulting in the internal displacement of approximately 27 000 people as of end‑March 2026. In addition, about 90 percent of the country’s 29 000 refugees and asylum seekers, mostly from Burkina Faso and the Niger, are hosted in these departments. The presence of displaced populations is straining the already limited resources of host communities and increasing local humanitarian needs.

Disclaimer: The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of Disclaimer: The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

This brief was prepared using the following data/tools:
FAO/GIEWS Country Cereal Balance Sheet (CCBS) https://www.fao.org/giews/data-tools/en/ .

FAO/GIEWS Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Tool https://fpma.fao.org/ .

FAO/GIEWS Earth Observation for Crop Monitoring https://www.fao.org/giews/earthobservation/ .

Cadre Harmonisé (CH) https://www.cadreharmonise.org/ .