The number of people facing insufficient food consumption (IFC) in seven selected West African countries, including Ghana, has declined by 16.1 million between March and April 2025, according to AGRA’s Food Security Monitor report.
The May 2025 report says the number of people facing IFC declined from 157.3 million to 141.2 million across Ghana, Nigeria, Niger, Mali, Cote D’Ivoire, Togo and Burkina Faso, which have a combined total population of about 334.7 million people. The report attributes the significant reduction to progress in Nigeria’s food security situation.
Consequently, the current level of IFC across the seven West African countries is lower than the 158.5 million reported in April last year, but higher than the 119.2 million recorded in April 2023. Compared to a year ago, Ghana and Togo have recorded the most significant increases in the number of people facing food insecurity at 58.4% and 42.1%, respectively.
People facing IFC refer to those with poor or borderline food consumption, according to the Food Consumption Score (FCS). FCS is a proxy indicator for food security that measures the diversity of household diets and how frequently food is consumed. The FCS is calculated using the frequency of consumption of eight food groups by a household over seven days before the survey, using standardised weights for each food group reflecting its respective nutrient density. It then classifies households as having ‘poor’, ‘borderline’ or ‘acceptable’ food consumption.
Poor food consumption typically refers to households that do not consume staples and vegetables every day and never, or very seldom, consume protein-rich food such as meat and dairy. Borderline food consumption typically refers to households that consume staples and vegetables every day, accompanied by oils and pulses a few times a week. Acceptable food consumption typically refers to households that consume staples and vegetables every day, frequently accompanied by oils and pulses, and occasionally meat, fish and dairy.
The monthly Food Security Monitor is a tool that equips policymakers and other stakeholders with vital insights to navigate challenges and prioritise interventions. This month’s edition overviews the food security situation and market prices across East, South, and West Africa.
Rise in prices of rice and maize
The report, however, noted that across West Africa, the price of maize and rice rose generally, largely driven by currency depreciation. Ghana recorded the highest price of rice at USD 1,012/MT in April, up from USD 948/MT in March 2025. Nigeria posted the lowest rice and maize prices at USD 715/MT and USD 319/MT, respectively. The report says the rising cost of cereals in most parts of the region is driven by multiple factors, such as a weakened national currency, elevated transportation expenses, shortages in cereal production, and market disruptions caused by conflicts in various regions.
Young Ghanaian rice farmer Julius Fieve says the challenges in the rice production sector are several. He identifies the high cost of land acquisition, land tenure challenges, high cost of capital, high cost of inputs, climate change, and lack of machinery as some of the constant struggles militating against rice production in Ghana. “Unpredictable rainfall patterns affect my upland rice production. In 2024, irregular rains delayed planting by three weeks, reducing my yield potential by 15%. The lack of irrigation facilities exacerbates this issue, as I cannot afford to install boreholes or irrigation systems, leaving me dependent on rainfall,” he said.
“The cost of capital is a major barrier. High interest rates, often above 30% annually in Ghana make loans expensive, and securing collateral is tough for a new business like mine. I do not own enough assets to qualify for large bank loans, which limits my ability to scale. Second, the high cost of inputs and lack of machinery is a constant struggle,” Mr. Fieve added. Stakeholders say these challenges would have to be addressed in order to help drive down the cost of rice in the country.
Global outlook
The report notes that the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Food Price Index (FFPI) increased by 1% in April compared to March 2025, driven by rises in the cereal, dairy and meat price indices despite declines in those of sugar and vegetable oils. The rise in cereal prices was attributed to tightening exportable supplies in the Russian Federation, steady export activity from some major exporters, and currency movements linked to a weaker United States dollar, amid trade policy developments and macroeconomic uncertainties. The AGRA report notes that over the past month, all fertiliser types have experienced price increases, with Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) and urea recording the highest gains at 2.1% and 2.5%, respectively.
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