Food insecurity in Africa - 1st April 2022

"War in Ukraine means hunger in Africa," warns Kristalina Georgieva, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund. Russia's war on Ukraine's pushed up prices of wheat and other cereals across Africa. These two global wheat exporters are Africa's main suppliers.

International sanctions are blocking trade with Russia. This affects many countries' economies. As Russia's the biggest supplier of fuel to African nations, this has led to energy prices rising sharply.

In Nigeria, electricity networks are unreliable. 70 percent of businesses depend on diesel to run private generators. Higher diesel costs have to be passed on to customers.

For baker Julius Adewale, they're making bread unaffordable.

Julius Adewale: "Cost of production, it has increase immensely. So, they have to come together and now also increase the price of bread by, by 40 percent to what it was before. A common man, that have not even eaten, you no expect him to buy bread, or a loaf of bread, for 700."

The trend's repeated across the continent. In Uganda, a typical 5,000 shilling weekly grocery bill has doubled.

Although Nigeria is Africa's largest oil producer, it has few processing facilities. The government subsidises petrol imports for its residents. However, diesel and plane fuel are sold at market prices.

Construction worker Samuel Salau sees how high transport costs affect the price of food around the country.

Samuel Salau: "At the beginning of the year, diesel sell for, I think about 270 to 280. Then, at a time, we are having it like 310, 300 now. But at presently, within a month, it's left that level to about 600 and something plus now. And, so many industry is on diesel. Trucks that bring here food, so from the north to the south, are running on diesel. Even train runs on diesel."

Prices rising dramatically is increasing food insecurity. It's not only worrying for places like Ethiopia, where 20 million already required food aid. The problem's expected to become more widespread.