The decline in the prices of cereals and vegetable oils in world markets dragged down the food price index, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the agency responsible for develop this global reference.
The FAO specified that the indicator decreased by 8.6% compared to June, thus spinning the fifth consecutive monthly fall after the historical maximums that it reached at the beginning of the year.
The average price of vegetable oil fell more than 19% from June to July, while that of cereals fell 11.5%.
Despite this drop, the basic basket is still 13.1% more expensive than in July 2021.
The FAO explained that although this is good news, there are still many uncertainties, including high fertilizer prices, which may affect production prospects and farmers’ livelihoods.
Furthermore, global economic projections are bleak and currency fluctuations threaten food security.
Thanks to the sterile insect technique, Mexico successfully eradicated the Mediterranean fruit fly in the state of Colima, with a Pacific coast, in the central west of the country.
The Mediterranean fly, one of the most devastating pests of fruits and vegetables, was detected in April 2021 in Manzanillo, the largest port in Mexico.
The country’s government reacted promptly, supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the FAO to combat the calamity and avoid restrictions in the countries of destination of its exports. Mexico is the seventh world producer and exporter of fresh fruits and vegetables.
The eradication plan consisted of the release of 1.45 billion male flies sterilized with radiation, a technique that does not harm the environment. After being released, these males mate with wild females that do not reproduce and gradually allow the insect to be eradicated.
UNICEF/Omid Fazel
A doctor measures the arm circumference of Ibrahim, an eight-month-old boy suffering from malnutrition, at a hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia.
Funds urgently needed to avert famine in Somalia
Famine could come as early as next month in eight areas of Somalia, where drought and lack of livelihoods have forced more than 900,000 people into displacement camps this year, the FAO has warned.
“We cannot wait for famine to be declared; we must act now to safeguard lives and livelihoods,” said Rein Paulsen, director of the FAO Office of Emergencies and Resilience, after visiting the Horn of Africa country.
The UN body pointed out that this catastrophe would occur if the loss of agricultural and livestock production continues, the prices of basic products continue to rise and humanitarian assistance does not reach the most vulnerable population.
More than three million animals essential to pastoralist communities in Somalia have so far died and crop production has been substantially reduced due to unprecedented lack of rainfall and drought.
The FAO seeks to help 882,000 people in 55 districts, but for this it urgently needs 131.4 million dollars. So far famine prevention efforts in Somalia have only received 46% of the funding needed to save hundreds of thousands of lives.
The agency’s preventive strategy includes cash transfers so people can buy their food, as well as keeping animals alive with emergency food, veterinary treatment and water supplies in the context of drought.
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