Variation in Staple Food Prices in Eastern and Southern Africa: Causes, Consequences and Policy Options

AAMP Policy Briefing 1 January, 2010 This brief summarizes the policy implications of three thematic papers and seven country background papers prepared for the COMESA-ACTESA policy seminar on “Variations in staple food prices: Causes, consequences, and policy implications.” There is little controversy about the need for governments to support staple food markets with infrastructure, market information, agricultural research, and other public goods. However, many of the most costly agricultural programs in eastern and southern Africa involve raising food prices to protect farmers, lowering food prices to protect consumers, and reducing volatility in food prices through a variety of mechanisms including tariffs, export restrictions, public trading in staple foods, and subsidized distribution. A review of the experience with these policies is particularly relevant in the wake of the global food crisis, which has led to an expansion in trade restrictions and stabilization efforts