My stand on the increased food prices in Uganda

I'm blessed to be born in Uganda, the pearl of Africa. It's such a beautiful country though it's currently going through some economic strain and imbalance. Commodity prices in my country are so high compared to how they used to be in the past. Fuel prices increased by 13% and then food prices went almost double the original selling and buying price.

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I will start by mentioning that the war between Russia and Ukraine has greatly contributed to the increase in food supply in my country and entirely the whole world since these two countries are the leading exporters of commodities. This war greatly disrupted the supply of oil and cereals like wheat, grains, to mention but a few.

Secondly the high fuel prices have also affected the food prices in the country. Farmers incur alot of transport charges bringing their agricultural products to the markets and in the end they tend to overcharge vendors so as to cover up the huge losses incurred on transport. Market vendors also over charge their customers so as to not operate in losses.

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Next is there has been population increase in Uganda where people sell off their productive land to give room to occupants hence occupying farming land. We have seen alot of refugees coming in to Uganda. Yes they are always put in camps but most of them run away from there and come to get land to develop themselves once again.

The rate at which Ugandans are growing food crops has gone down a bit. They have resorted to growing cash crops like coffee, cotton, tea and tobacco so as to earn money from it. Our food crops like cassava, rice, beans, groundnuts, to mention but a few are now being given little or no attention by the farmers hence making the government to export such crops from abroad yet we could locally grow them here.

I always love hearing from you great team, kindly let me know about the food prices in your countries or areas.