Chapter 1


Box 1.1 Seasonal food insecurity in Burkina Faso

During the drought of 1984-85, a study was undertaken to examine the seasonal incidence and
determinants of food insecurity in two regions of Burkina Faso. One village was chosen to
represent the Sahel region, with low and variable levels of rainfall. The inhabitants are
sedentary agriculturalists, but animal husbandry is very important as a way to store wealth. The
other village is in the Sudano-Sahel. Rainfall is heavier and less variable than in the Sahel and
arable farming is the main occupation. Livestock is less important, partly because the area is
much more densely populated.

The researchers identified people as food insecure when they consumed less than 2,280 kcals
per day per adult equivalent (i.e. assigning weights for the elderly children etc. according to
their needs relative to an adult), which is 80% of the WHO assessment of average calorie
requirements for a moderately active adult. Households were ranked according to their wealth,
in terms of grain stocks and animals. The year was divided into four seasons, the harvest
season, cold season, hot season and rainy season. The rainy season is the most important season
for farming activity, when the crops are planted and weeded. The following table shows the
results of their research.

Table Percentage of food-insecure adult equivalents per season

 Harvest 1984 Cold Hot Rainy Harvesi
 1985 1985 1985 1985

 Sahel village sample
 Poor 34 54 34 57 21
 Middle 0 0 27 0 0
 Rich 0 0 18 18 0
 Sudano-Sahel village sample
 Poor 75 54 52 63 20
 Middle 71 62 90 84 65
 Rich 31 29 20 49 0

 There was a clear seasonal pattern of food insecurity in the Sahel village. This was less so in
 the Sudano-Sahel village, insofar as the poor harvest in 1984 had a very negative effect.
 However, the improved harvest in 1985 re-established a seasonal element. Some households
 suffered from chronic food insecurity, i.e. intake was below the cut-off level in all seasons.
 These households were not always amongst the poorest, as measured by wealth, but did have
 significantly smaller holdings of land and livestock. Livestock were particularly important as
 insurance in the Sahel village.

 As shown by this study, food insecurity in Burkina Faso has a definite seasonal pattern, but this
 overlaps with chronic food insecurity and can be deepened by transitional shocks.

 Source: T.Reardon & P.Madton., 1989