By Prossy Nandudu
East Africans are assured of a stable food supply in the next months due to reduced prices of food items in the region.
Reduced food prices are a result of a bumper harvest that was experienced in almost all East African Community (EAC) member countries, apart from Ethiopia, which continues to experience high food prices amidst the ongoing harvest.
This is according to the Monthly Food Security Monitor, compiled by AGRA Africa with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Reockeflla Foundation, UKAID, and USAID.
The monthly Food Security Monitor is one through which AGRA makes data available to key stakeholders for evidence-based decision-making.
According to the report released on Monday, in Uganda, prices of beans and maize remained lower in the month of August compared to previous months due to increased availability of food stocks from the recent harvest.
The prices of maize in August were lower than what was recorded in the past 1-12 months where prices of beans were also low compared to the past 1-3 months. According to the report, prices are likely to remain stable in the next 3 to 6 months for both beans and maize.
South Sudan
For S. Sudan, food prices remained low in the previous month due to the onset of their harvest. Compared to July, the prices of maize only increased in Gogrial and Wau by 33.33% and 5.01% respectively, while sorghum prices increased by 7.01% and 5.01% in Rumbek and Wau, respectively.
The higher prices, which are above the prices in the last 3-12 months, are a result of several factors including conflicts, poor macroeconomic conditions, influx of returned refugees, and poor harvests, according to the report.
Tanzania
In Tanzania, prices of food commodities remain lower than previously due to available food stocks from the recent harvest. The prices of beans however remain high by 1.87% and 2.7% in Dodoma and Moshi, while the price of maize has increased by 41.18% in Dodoma and rice experienced a low increase in Arusha and Moshi by 3.41% and 2.36% respectively, the food security monitor report adds.
Rwanda
For Rwanda, prices of food commodities recorded in August show lower trends driven by the availability of household food stocks from the ongoing Season C harvest.
Compared to July, the prices of beans and maize were only higher in Mugera at 10.64% and 6.93% respectively, whereas sorghum prices were only higher in Kabuga by 8.64%.
Kenya
Meanwhile, in Kenya, prices of food commodities show lower trends compared to previous months in Kenya. Nonetheless, compared to August, the prices of arrowroot, beans (Wairimu variety), maize, rice, white Irish potato, and white sorghum have experienced increases in prices.
Particularly, arrowroot (mayuni), white Irish potato, and white sorghum have had significant increases by 37.14%, 22.88%, and 25.06% respectively.
Apart from low market availability following successive below-average production seasons, increases in fuel prices of between 9 to 20%, driven by higher landing costs of fuel, increases in value-added tax, and the removal of subsidies on petroleum products have increased food prices.
