Regional Highlights
Northern region
Available preliminary crop estimates - for only 6 out of 20 districts - suggest that most districts recorded a deficit in the production of major staple cereals. Tolon-Kumbungu is the only district which reported an increase in production of all major staples over the previous year.
- In 92% of reporting sentinel sites, the sale of agricultural produce was the main source of income for men, but in the case of women, 33% of sites identified the sale of agricultural crops as the main income source. Household food consumption requirements were met using stocks from the households' own production in 86% of reporting sentinel sites.
- Maize prices declined by 10% between October and November and are 38% higher than the five-year average. Millet price also dropped by 6% between October and November and is 11% higher than the five-year average price in Tamale.
- Labour-to-maize terms of trade increased from 5.8kg in October to 8.8kg in November as a result of an increase in the cost of labour.
Upper East Region
- Growing conditions were generally favourable for the cultivation of maize and groundnuts during the 2010 growing season, resulting in a production increase of 54% and 7% respectively over the previous year. On the other hand, the production of millet and rice decreased by 54.2% and 30% respectively over 2009.
- In all reporting sentinel sites (100%) in the region, household food consumption requirements were met in November using stocks from their own production. In 66% of reporting sentinel sites, adequate supplies of food grains either in the local market or a market in the nearby village ensured easy physical market access. Just as in the Northern Region, the sale of agricultural produce constituted the main source of income for men in all reporting sentinel sites with only 33% of sites identifying agricultural crop sale as the main source of income for women. Another 33% of sentinel sites identified petty trading as an important source of income for women.
- In spite of the apparent increase in maize production over last year in the region, Bolga market recorded 11% increase in the price of maize over the previous month. Maize price is also 35% above the five-year average.
- In view of the prevailing price of maize in the region, labour-to-maize terms of trade for November improved to 14.8kg from 11kg in October.
Upper West
- With a 26.6 percentage point increase in maize production over 2009, the region is well positioned to continue its role as a major supplier of maize to markets in some parts of the Upper East Region. However, the production of other crops, such as millet, groundnuts and rice recorded a deficit as a result of which household food security and purchasing power may be constrained.
- Though the price of maize is currently at its November 2009 level, it remains 62% higher than the five-year average and 5% lower than the previous month. Subject to the continuing inflow of adequate market stocks, the price of maize may follow the same trend as in 2009 and decrease further between November and December. With most harvested grain still being processed, available stocks are being kept off the market for households' consumption.
- All reporting sentinel sites obtained their cereal consumption for the month of November through stocks from their own production. In 91% of these reporting sentinel sites, men obtained their income primarily from the sale of agricultural produce, but only 36% of sentinel sites cited crop sale as the main source of income for women.
- Labour-to-maize terms of trade improved from 4.1kg in October to 17 kg in November as a result of a reduction in the price of maize.