Export prices of wheat and maize generally declined in February amid well-supplied global markets and uncertainties about the impact of Coronavirus on global demand. By contrast, international prices of rice strengthened, on a combination of demand from Far Eastern and East African buyers and tight availabilities in some exporting countries. In Southern Africa, maize price increases eased reflecting improved prospects for the 2020 harvest, large import volumes and the effects...

In February, after rising three months in a row, FAO’s price index for oilseeds posted a moderate drop, shedding 5.8 points (or 3.8 percent). Meanwhile, the vegetable oil price index saw a more pronounced drop of 18.2 points (or 10.3 percent), thus interrupting the upward trend observed since July 2019. By contrast, the oilmeal index remained virtually unchanged. Year-on-year, all three indices trailing the oilcrops complex fared above the respective...

FAO assesses that globally 44 countries, of which 34 are in Africa, continue to be in need of external assistance for food. Agricultural droughts have aggravated food insecurity conditions, due to reduced harvests that also caused price hikes. Conflict driven crises continued to be the primary cause of the high levels of severe food insecurity.

Between 24 November and 14 December 2019, assisted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and other partners, the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources (MoANR) carried out its annual Assessment Mission to determine crop production and food supply situation throughout the 18 states of the country. The Mission consisted of six core teams comprising members from the MoANR, the Food Security Technical Secretariat (FSTS) of...

Export prices of wheat and maize were mostly higher in January, mainly underpinned by a strong trade activity. International prices of rice edged up on easing harvest pressure and concerns over the potential impact of unfavourable weather on exporters’ outputs. In East Africa, prices of coarse grains in January persisted at relatively high levels across the subregion, due to an overall year-on-year reduction in the 2019 cereal output, further exacerbated...

In January, FAO’s price indices tracking the oilcrops complex continued to rise. The oilseeds and oilmeals indices increased for the second consecutive month, gaining, respectively, 5.0 and 4.2 points (or 3.4 and 2.7 percent). While the oilseeds index climbed to the highest level since May 2018, the index for oilmeals remained below the value observed in the corresponding month of last year. As for vegetable oils, the price index rose...

Medium-term Outlook: Prospects for global production and trade in bananas and tropical fruits 2019. Bananas and, particularly, tropical fruits constitute a significant source of economic growth, income, food security and nutrition for the rural areas of many developing countries. The projections for bananas and tropical fruits presented in this medium-term outlook span a ten year horizon, from 2019 to 2028.