Data

The FAO Food Price Index for March averages 216 points, virtually unchanged from February's FPI at 215 points. Cereal prices also rose only one point. Low maize inventories and a strong soybean market caused a slight increase in maize prices, but sufficient wheat supplies kept that commodity's prices stable. Overall, only oils/fats prices showed strong growth due to a tightening of the expected 2011/2012 supply and demand balance.

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FAO has released the latest global Food Price Index, citing a 1% increase in food prices in February. Despite this increase, the Food Price Index for February remains 10% below its peak in February 2011.

The African Growth and Development Policy (AGRODEP) Modeling Consortium released its first edition of the AGRODEP Bulletin , a publication providing insights into major economic development issues in Africa. The Bulletin introduces research and capacity building activities undertaken by AGRODEP and announces publication of new economic data and statistics on Africa. Read more .

AGRODEP (African Growth and Development Policy Modeling Consortium) has now launched its third round of membership application. Qualified economists from Africa are eligible; membership provides free access to cutting-edge economic research tools, resources, and training that may otherwise be unavailable to researchers in the region.

FEWS NET has released its monthly price watch for February 2012. The report cites stable and declining grain prices in much of West and East Africa, although prices remain high in the Sahel region and Kenya. In particular, grain prices in South Sudan remain very high due to poor production and trade; similarly, maize prices in Malawi continue to increase rapidly. Afghanistan and Tajikistan continue to see high wheat and wheat flour prices.

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