2021-06-02 16:31:06 GMT2021-06-03 00:31:06(Beijing Time) Xinhua English
JOHANNESBURG, June 2 (Xinhua) Rising food prices were deepening poverty and financial crisis in South Africa, according to the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group.
Mervyn Abrahams, program coordinator at the group, said the escalating food prices were forcing low-income families to cut back on nutritional foods. Households don t have enough money to buy essential food and COVID-19 has worsened the crisis, Abrahams told Xinhua on Wednesday.
The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group tracks 44 foods that low-income families purchase and consume on a monthly basis. Families are forced to rely mainly on starch items such as rice and maize meal because you remain full for longer after eating them, he said, adding that these food are less nutritious.
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Elevated prices for the staple food maize are putting pressure on cash-strapped South African consumers still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic and fanning food price inflation.
5/28/2021 Staple white maize up 28% year-on-year Meat prices rise on higher feed costs, less slaughtering
By Tanisha Heiberg
JOHANNESBURG, May 28 (Reuters) - Elevated prices for the
staple food maize are putting pressure on cash-strapped South
African consumers still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic
and fanning food price inflation.
A global run in the price of maize driven by higher import
demand from China, droughts in South America and dry conditions
in parts of the United States and Canada has raised local maize
prices despite expectations of a bumper 2020/2021 domestic maize
crop.
The September domestic white maize contract closed
at 3,107 rand ($224.85) per tonne on Thursday 28% higher than a