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Libya's 2026 grain production forecast to fall by 20% due to mixed weather conditions
via Libya Herald2 min read
A Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FAO report indicates that Libya's 2026 cereal production is expected to decrease by nearly 20% compared to the five-year average, totaling about 150,000 tonnes. This decline is attributed to mixed weather conditions, including dry weather from October to November 2025 which delayed planting and reduced planted areas, particularly in the Al Jabal Al Akhdar province. Consequently, cereal import requirements for the 2026/27 marketing year are forecast at 3.3 million tonnes, approximately 7% above average, with wheat imports alone projected at 1.5 million tonnes. The report also notes an 18% year-on-year increase in food inflation by May 2026, largely due to the Libyan dinar's depreciation. Furthermore, political and economic instability, coupled with funding shortfalls, continue to hinder humanitarian assistance to vulnerable households, including over 110,000 registered refugees as of April 2026.
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