Introduction

Monitoring the price, availability, and affordability of agricultural inputs (crops and livestock) on a seasonal basis provides crucial information for implementing Food Security and Livelihood (FSL) activities. By tracking input prices, we gain insight into the functioning and viability of the market, which is relevant for both food assistance and agro-based livelihood programming. This initiative collects both qualitative and quantitative data to monitor prices and trends of selected crops and livestock inputs in targeted geographical locations. The evidence gathered from this monitoring informs the FSL Cluster and humanitarian partners/agency members in deciding the Cash Transfer Values for respective agricultural inputs/kits distributions over time and space. This support is aimed at improving agricultural production and is similar to the way standard food basket and survival minimum expenditure basket (SMEB) values inform cash transfer values for food assistance programming.