Namibia: Food Prices 'Going Through the Roof'

14 April 2008

Windhoek — The price of food has soared at an unprecedented rate, due to a combination of increases driven by the production of bio-fuels instead of food crops, the increased demand for protein and climate change putting pressure on food production on a global scale, said experts.

In Namibia, the annual price increase of food - from February last year (15 percent) to the same time this year - has been 15.6 percent. Milk, eggs, oils, vegetables, as well as potatoes and other tubers experienced an even higher annual increase of more than 20 percent. "Food prices are going through the roof," commented Jesko Woermann, a director of retail chain Woermann Brock. Food accounts for about 30 percent of the overall consumption basket, while in Namibia many families spend up to 100 percent of their income on food alone.

...

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.