Posted on October, 23, 2023 at 10:53 pm
Summary
Our monthly Food Security Monitor is one way that AGRA makes data available to key stakeholders to underpin evidence-based decision-making. Highlights from the September Food Security Monitor are summarised below:
Global Market Update
Global grain prices are generally low amidst increased supplies. The International Grain Council (IGC) Grains and Oilseeds Index (GOI) declined by 4.01% in September compared to August. Nonetheless, rice prices are of concern in the wake of bans by India. Fertilizer prices also remain low due to low offseason demands.
Regional Food Security Updates
In East Africa, food insecurity remains a concern in most countries except in Rwanda.
Many households in East Africa are experiencing IPC 3 and above conditions driven by conflicts and past climatic shocks.
In Southern Africa, mostly IPC 2 and 3 conditions persist across the Southern African region as the lean season begins in the region and due to the aftermath of the past climatic shocks.
In West Africa, food insecurity remains a concern across Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger as IPC 3 and above conditions are observed across many parts of these countries. The main driver of this condition is the disruption of agricultural, trading, and food assistance activities due to conflicts and insecurity.
Food Trade
In East Africa, the East African Community partner states have through their standards regulators agreed on 11 measures aimed at improving the standard of food products on the market. The move is also aimed at ensuring the protection of local consumers against food-borne diseases and a smooth flow of trade within the region.
In Southern Africa, the European Union 11th Development Programme will support the upgrade of the Tunduma border post to facilitate trade flow along the Zambia-Tanzania corridor to the tune of Euros 2.638 million project.
In West Africa, ECOWAS to begin the construction of the 1028-kilometer Abidjan-Lagos highway project in January 2024. The project which cuts across and connects major cities and traversing Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic, and Cote D’Ivoire, has a significant economic potential.
Commodity Prices
In East Africa, the prices of food commodities are generally reducing due to increased supplies from recently completed harvests, except in Ethiopia where food commodities prices remain high despite ongoing harvest.
In Southern Africa, prices of food commodities remain low in Mozambique but high in Malawi and Zambia as the lean season begins.
In West Africa, mixed trends continued to be observed, with Mali and Ghana experiencing lower prices, Niger and Nigeria experiencing higher prices, while the remaining countries show mixed trends.
Source: Reliefweb