The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) monitors trends in staple food prices in countries vulnerable to food insecurity. For each FEWS NET country and region, the Price Bulletin provides a set of charts showing monthly prices for the current marketing year in selected urban centers and allowing users to compare current trends with five-point average prices. years, indicative of seasonal trends, and prices. in the previous year.
Locally produced rice is the most important staple food for households in northern and central Madagascar. Imported rice is a less popular substitute, but often consumed by poor households because it is cheaper than locally produced rice and expands more during cooking. Dried cassava is the main staple in the south, although it is consumed in other parts of the country during the lean season when household food stocks are low. Maize is the third most important staple food and the second most consumed cereal in Madagascar.
Antananarivo, the capital, is the largest urban market and the main hub of the country’s staple food trading networks. Antananarivo is a net consumer of staple foods and is supplied by imports arriving through the port of Toamasina and major surplus producing areas across the country. Antsirabe, the second urban market, is located in the rice surplus region of Vakinankaratra and one of the markets that supply Antananarivo. Located on the eastern coast, Toamasina is the main port city of Madagascar where a large quantity of imported products comes before being marketed throughout the country. Southern Madagascar, including the markets of Ambovombe, Tsihombe, Amboasary and Fianarantsoa, are the main suppliers of cassava and maize.