High food prices worry UN body
Sep 09, 2009
HIGH food prices, prolonged drought and increasing inflation are pushing rural people into poverty and hunger, a UN agency has said.
By Ibrahim Kasita
HIGH food prices, prolonged drought and increasing inflation are pushing rural people into poverty and hunger, a UN agency has said.
“The current food prices remain well above the pre-crisis level despite a decline in international prices,†the Crop Prospects and Food Situation, a report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, indicated. Average food prices in August 2009 were about 18% higher than they were in 2006.
In Mbarara, Masaka, Kampala and Jinja, the cost of basic staple food increased. Even though international food prices have reduced from the record highs in 2008, local prices are yet to drop to their levels before the food crisis, the report said.
It added that unemployment and reduced wages were also complicating the problem because about 80% of the rural poor people’s income was spent on food.
HIGH food prices, prolonged drought and increasing inflation are pushing rural people into poverty and hunger, a UN agency has said.
“The current food prices remain well above the pre-crisis level despite a decline in international prices,†the Crop Prospects and Food Situation, a report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, indicated. Average food prices in August 2009 were about 18% higher than they were in 2006.
In Mbarara, Masaka, Kampala and Jinja, the cost of basic staple food increased. Even though international food prices have reduced from the record highs in 2008, local prices are yet to drop to their levels before the food crisis, the report said.
It added that unemployment and reduced wages were also complicating the problem because about 80% of the rural poor people’s income was spent on food.