Mozambique produces above-average maize crop; prices falling

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Mozambique produces above-average maize crop; prices falling

7:28 CAT | 31 May 2021

File photo: Lusa

Maize production in the 2020/21 growing season may be near- to above-average across much of Mozambique, and prices began to fall in April, according to a report by the Famine Early Warning (FEWS) Network.

“In April 2021, with the start of the harvest, maize grain prices decreased between 6 and 45 percent compared to March,” reads the report by the monitoring network, which supports the actions of government and humanitarian agencies.

It is estimated that the price of maize grain “will continue to decline” until July, as it does seasonally, “driven by increased availability in local markets”.

By contrast, maize meal and rice prices remained stable from March to April 2021.

“The appreciation of the metical against the US dollar may contribute to stabilization in maize meal and rice prices, with prices unlikely to fall in the short term,” the network forecasts.

The majority of Mozambicans live by subsistence agriculture, with maize one of the most common crops.

According to FEWS, the harvest underway is gradually improving food security, with much of the country facing minimal risks – between Levels 1 and 2 on a scale of up to 5 (‘Severe Hunger’).

“However, the armed conflict in Cabo Delgado is continuing to disrupt household livelihoods, giving rise to Level 3 and even Level 4 food insecurity [‘Emergency’] in the case of families in hiding in inaccessible areas or fleeing to safer areas,” the analysis advances.

As in previous reports, the network notes that Covid-19 preventative measures continue to worsen hunger in urban centres.

“Most measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 remain in place and continue to negatively impact income-earning opportunities for most poor urban households, causing ‘Stressed’ (Level 2) outcomes, with the worst affected households likely facing ‘Crisis’ (Level 3) outcomes,” forcing them to cut meals.

“Border control measures to control the spread of Covid-19, such as proof of a recent negative Covid-19 test, continue to restrict informal cross-border trade and prevent labour migrants entering South Africa,” it adds.

Mozambique had, by Sunday, reported an accumulated total of 836 deaths and 70,780 cases of Covid-19, of which 98% recovered, according to the Ministry of Health.

In Mozambique, maize prices continued to decline as harvests progressed throughout most of the country. Maize grain and meal prices in markets around the conflict zone in the northeast, such as in Pemba, were among the highest country-wide due to localized disrupted production and internal population displacement as well as disruptions to key marketing corridors.

The metical has appreciated approximately 20 percent against the US dollar following intervention by the government to provide additional foreign exchange reserves.

In Malawi, maize grain prices continued declining, and remain below their respective 2020 and five-year average levels.

Source: Lusa