The Rise of Food Prices and the Challenge of Development in Africa

Abstract

This article examines the rise of food prices and analyses the factors that contribute to price hikes and the overall implication in Africa’s development. Africa is a conspicuous laggard among contemporary developing regions in the world. The continent bears the brunt of starvation, malnutrition, hunger and diseases that arise directly from food price hikes. Political instability, bad governance, lack of political will, and natural disasters such as droughts, fl oods and famine are some of the contributors to the price hikes. The article recommends timely government intervention through bulk purchase and distribution of food in the short term, and land redistribution, provision of credit, agricultural processing, and improved access to markets as long-term measures to mitigate the debilitating conditions