Global food prices rebounded in April for the second consecutive month, boosted by rising tariffs on meat, dairy products and cereals, according to an FAO report published on Friday.
The food price index calculated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which tracks the variation in international prices of a basket of basic products, grew 0.3% in April compared to March.
The figure fell each month between August and February. And the trend, in fact, continues to be downward in one year, with a decline of 9.6% compared to the same period in 2023.
In April, the price of meat increased the most (+1.6%).
Cereals rose 0.3%, especially due to weather conditions for the upcoming harvest in several producing countries, and vegetable oils also rose 0.3%. Among the products whose rates fell was sugar (-4.4%).
Production appears to be larger than expected in India and Thailand. In Brazil, rains in late March and April helped calm fears about the harvest, FAO explained.
Famine crisis persists in 59 countries
According to the latest World Food Crisis Report, Nearly 282 million people in 59 countries and territories experienced high levels of acute hunger in 2023which represents a worldwide increase of 24 million compared to the previous year.
This increase is due to the report’s greater coverage of food crisis contexts, as well as the sharp deterioration in food security, especially in the Gaza Strip and Sudan, due to the conflicts that persist in these territories.
For four consecutive years, the proportion of people facing acute food insecurity has remained persistently high at almost 22% of those assessed.
According to the report, children and women are on the front lines of these food crises, with more than 36 million children under 5 years of age suffering from acute malnutrition in 32 countries.
Malnutrition
Causes: Conflicts continued to be the main cause affecting 20 countries, with almost 135 million people in situations of acute food insecurity, almost half the world figure. The Meteorological phenomena Extremes also affect 18 countries, where more than 77 million people faced high levels of acute food insecurity, up from 12 countries with 57 million people in 2022.
Source: Larepublica
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