Since the last quarter of 2023, warning signs have been emerging that a new food crisis, potentially more serious than the one in 2008, is looming. The significant increase in the production and export price of rice has had a direct impact on the lives of the population, making it unaffordable for many.
Although the crisis is not intense in Mozambique, in some African countries, specifically Nigeria, the impact of the rise is already being felt throughout the country. For example, the price of a kilo of imported rice increased by 46.34% in August 2023, compared to the previous year, according to the National Statistics Agency.
The impact of the crisis is felt not only by the Nigerian population, but also by other countries that depend on rice exports from India, the world’s largest exporter. Restrictions imposed by the Indian government since 2022 have caused concern around the world. India stopped exporting “milled rice”, a cheap and nutritious product bought mainly by poorer countries such as Bangladesh and Benin. The ban remains in place until 2024, with the imposition of additional tariffs and restrictions.
The panic among consumers and the measures taken by other major producing countries highlight the seriousness of the situation. India hopes to reach a target of 128 million metric tons of rice by September 2024, but climatic phenomenasuch as El Niño pose additional challenges for production.
