ABSTRACT
This chapter seeks to demonstrate the connection between climate variability and the price of local staple foods through an examination of the reasons for seasonal price movements. The influence of the global commodity markets is discussed, along with other factors that affect local staple food prices, such as changes in marketing or in cereal supplies. As an isolated, poorly developed region, West Africa serves as an example of a region where prices and production are closely coupled. Multi-level, cross-sectional analysis is presented to explain why prices vary across locations. This chapter includes an assessment of how local agricultural productivity as measured by remote sensing is used to improve our understanding of market price dynamics along with economic, political and other shocks on food access. The chapter end with an assessment of social and nutrition impacts of seasonality on children and other vulnerable populations.
