Editorial.

• Author: Hambuba, Carlyn

The World's food prices have risen by 45 percent in the last nine months causing serious shortages for staple foods like rice, wheat and maize. However, as the world experiences the unprecedented food crisis that have driven prices to their highest levels in decades, African women bear the worst burden of this crisis.

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) between March 2007 and March 2008 prices of cereals increased 88%, oils and fats 106%, and dairy 48%. The FAO food price index as a whole rose by 57% in one year and most of the increase occurred in 2008. The World Bank also highlights the glaring food price hike, in the 36 months ending February 2008, global wheat prices rose 181% and overall global food prices increased by 83%. The Bank expects most food prices to remain well high until at least 2015.

In some countries like Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire and South Africa people took to the streets in protest of the rising food prices. Similar protests have taken place in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and Zambia. The current high food price is intricately linked to the price of oil because rising oil prices also affect the cost of producing food, fertilizer and pesticides which are made from petroleum and natural gas.

It's clear that the global climate crisis is already here, and it is affecting food security as weft. Scientists say that climate change could cut food production in parts of the world by 50% in the next 12 years. Climate change continues to pose great stresses on the world's ability to feed the ever growing populations. A combination of factors, including reduced production due to climate change, historically low levels of stocks, higher consumption of meat and dairy products in emerging economies, increased demand for biofuels production and the higher cost of energy and transport have led to surges in food prices.

This issue of FEMNET News focuses on the Current Food Crisis and Climate Change Effects and its Impact on African Women. We bring you stories from Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. We hope you will enjoy reading these articles gathered in four African countries.

Carlyn Hambuba

Communications Officer

African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET)

Les prix des denrees alimentaires dans te monde ont monte de 45 pour cent au cours de neuf derniers mois, occasionnant de graves penuries des aliments de base comme le riz, le ble et le mais. Cependant...