Rising food costs will worsen nutritional status of Zambians-Nutrition Alliance

Zambia Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition Alliance fears rising food costs will worsen nutritional status of Zambians.

The Zambia Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition Alliance says recent fuel hikes will lead to further increases in food prices and reduce access to nutritious food and worsen nutritional status and health of people in Zambia.

Alliance National Coordinator William Chilufya say the recent fuel hikes have come on top of high food prices as seen from the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) food basket.

“As seen from JCTR the cost of the food basket has increased, this will force households to reduce quality and quantity of food consumed. Resulting in many people at risk of being hungry and many more unable to afford the dietary required to perform, develop and grow well,” Mr Chilufya said.

He said, “The large, sudden and unexpected increase in cost of living is forcing people to adjust quickly and negatively when it comes to food consumption. People’s purchasing power is going to go further down and households will be pushed into poverty as their income levels have remained largely unchanged. This entails that savings will become a mammoth task.”

Mr Chilufya stated that the decreased purchase of more expensive foods typically equates to consumption of fewer nutrient-dense foods, such as animal source foods like meat, poultry, eggs, fish, milk including fruits, and vegetables.

“When ‘savings’ brought about by this coping strategy are insufficient, households may also reduce expenditure on basic foods.”
He added, “We are witnessing poor households spend a higher proportion of their limited incomes on their food needs. They often consume smaller quantities, less frequently; and in many cases the foods they consume are less nutritious.

If not addressed promptly, the increasing food prices will continue to negatively infringe on the poor as they may end up eating less than they already are, while others eat only what they can afford to buy, irrespective of quality putting them at risk of malnutrition.”

Mr Chilufya said, “We believe people have a right to make good food choices, and when this is not possible due to severely low purchasing power, it not only affects the quality of life but also affects their dignity.”

“When households replace meat, fruits, vegetables and other micronutrient-rich foods with high carbohydrate staples, their energy intake may remain above the minimum requirement, but both macro and micronutrient intake is compromised, thus increasing risk of stunting malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and associated poor health outcomes.”

He said, “Population most affected are those with the highest requirements, including young children, pregnant and lactating women, and the chronically ill particularly people living with HIV. Because under nutrition during the First 2 years of life have lifelong consequences, even short term price rises will have long term effects.”

Mr Chilufya wanted that when nutrition needs are not met, people become prone to illness, perform worse at school and have lower productivity.

“It also means that at national level, prevalence of stunting, underweight and other forms of malnutrition may increase, slowing human development and economic growth. These outcomes also threaten the achievement of many national development interventions such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Thus, measures to mitigate the impact of the food prices are urgently required.”

Mr Chilufya has since recommended the designing of various instruments, with varying degrees of efficiency and effectiveness to stabilize food prices, make food more affordable for targeted populations, and provide social protection to all vulnerable population throughout the country.

“Investment in nutrition is among the most cost-effective interventions, which not only affects the individual but also the growth prospects of the country.”