Reference Date: 06-February-2026

Cereal production in 2025 estimated at above-average level

Harvesting operations of the 2025 coarse grain and rice crops concluded in October 2025 and January 2026, respectively. The start of the rainy season, which usually extends from June to October, was marked by below-average precipitation amounts and an erratic distribution of rains in June, affecting planting operations and crop germination. However, in most producing areas, including the Oio, Cacheu and Biombo regions, which together account for the bulk of domestic cereal output, weather conditions improved from July onwards. Average cumulative precipitation amounts through October benefited crop development and boosted yields. According to satellite-based data, some dry spells affected crops in localized areas, resulting in minor production shortfalls.

Support to farmers by the government, FAO and the World Food Programme (WFP), including the provision of rice, maize and millet seeds, contributed to a slight expansion of the area planted in 2025.

The 2025 aggregate cereal production is estimated at about 351 000 tonnes, approximately 18 percent above the average of the previous five years.

Prices of rice lower year-on-year in November 2025

Retail prices of imported rice, the most consumed cereal in the country, were 10 percent below their year-earlier levels in November 2025. Retail prices of imported wheat flour, another key food staple, were 10 to 20 percent lower on a yearly basis or remained unchanged.

Prices of locally produced sorghum were near their year-earlier levels in November 2025, whereas prices of local millet were 10 to 25 percent higher year-on-year in monitored markets.

About 146 000 people acutely food insecure during 2025 lean season

According to the latest available Cadre Harmonisé (CH) analysis, about 146 000 people (8 percent of the analysed population) were estimated to be acutely food insecure (CH Phase 3 [Crisis]) during the June to August 2025 lean season period. In particular, there were concerns about the food security situation of approximately 3 000 people affected by a severe windstorm and torrential rains in the city of Gabu in June 2025, which damaged critical infrastructures, housing and food stocks, and disrupted livelihoods.

CH estimates of the number of acutely food insecure people for the March to May 2026 period as well as projections for the June to August 2026 lean season are expected to be released in March 2026.

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/ .

Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) https://www.ipcinfo.org/ .