Food to the Hungry

There has been much focus recently in Scotland on the growing role of Foodbanks in distributing food to needy people struggling to feed themselves and their families. Here in Zambia too, there is a concern that rising food prices are threatening to put even essential foods out of the reach of the majority of Zambians.

43 percent of the Zambian population are classed as extremely poor and 60 percent are classed as poor. Almost 50% (48.5%) of Zambian children are undernourished. Recent price rises and fluctuations have brought a 25kg bag of mealie meal, the local staple food, to stand at K65 for Breakfast (refined meal) (US$13, E9 or GBP8) and K55(US$11, E8 or GBP7) for the coarser meal called 'Roller'. These are Mwandi Village prices. The global market is given the blame as there has been an increased demand for food from developing economies in Asia and South America. Food security is a world wide-issue.

Here in Zambia a number of factors have affected prices. Firstly was the removal of state subsidies on fuel and maize; natural and climatic factors such as unpredictable weather patterns led to a number of poor harvests recently, this resulted in poor nutrition with fewer people producing less. The consequent stunting and failure to thrive means that malnourished children and adults do not reach their full potential.

At UCZ Mwandi Mission Hospital  people are often sick because of bad nutrition. We are fortunate that we can help those with a body mass index of less than 18.5 with the Church of Scotland sponsored HIV Nutrition Programme. Around 50 clients per month are given nutritional supplements. In the first 9 months of 2013, 5444 clients attended our Outreach and Static Clinics. Of those 418 were enrolled on the Nutrition Programme working out at around 8%.

The Agricultural Programme tries to show that the food sector can be diversified by promoting fish farming, poultry and livestock and be less fixated on cash crops such as maize, wheat and cotton.

The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection in reviewing 2013, stated that the high cost of living was mainly due to high food prices. As a faith based organisation, it stressed the need to see the poor access their basic needs and rights, such as the right to food. This is vital if there is to be improved living conditions and a reduction in poverty. It commended the prioritization of employment creation in the national budget and the harmonisation exercise that saw an increase in many of the poorer Government workers’ salaries.

So what does a family of 5 now need in Zambia for an average food basket, remembering that the price for Lusaka stood at K3470 (US$643) in January 2013?

In the month of December, the cost of basic food items and non-food essential items such as soap, washing detergents, water, electricity housing for a family of five in selected Districts stood at around K3500.This figure did not include additional costs such as education and transport, among other items.

BASIC NEEDS BASKET DECEMBER 2013

DISTRICT	PRICE
LUSAKA	K3539  =  US$655
SOLWEZI	K3040
LIVINGSTONE	K2709
KABWE	K2529
KITWE	K2318
LUANSHYA	K2317
KASAMA	K2308
MONZE	K2222
CHIPATA	K2197  =  US$407