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Washington, D.C. – The rapid spread of COVID-19 and efforts to contain it are generating growing concerns that food insecurity, malnutrition, and poverty may escalate, particularly among marginalized people in the developing world. To build more resilient, climate-smart, and healthy food systems that help people withstand these types of shocks policymakers must prioritize making them […]

ReliefWeb published the latest maize market report that shows March’s detailed results including maize decreased by 35 percent and the average retail price was 79 percent higher than the same time last year. The monthly Maize Market was developed by researchers at IFPRI-Malawi with the goal of providing clear and accurate information on the variation […]

The Center for Global Development’s weekly roundup featured the blogpost COVID-19 lockdowns threaten Africa’s vital informal urban food trade by Senior Research Fellow Danielle Resnick that highlights dangers for informal traders during lockdowns. “African governments have a history of cracking down on informal traders, especially during public health outbreaks.” 

The Center for Global Development’s weekly roundup featured the blogpost, Economic impact of COVID-19 on tourism and remittances: Insights from Egypt, by Senior Research Fellow Clemens Breisinger et al. The blogpost estimates monthly GDP losses for Egypt under a range of scenarios, with estimates around 0.7 to 0.8 percent. 

Public Eye News reported on the COVID-19 health crisis. The novel Coronavirus risks undermining economic stability, global humanitarian and food security initiatives for the wellbeing of mankind. Emeritus Research Fellow Shenggen Fan posits “COVID-19 is a health crisis. But it could also lead to a food security crisis if proper measures are not taken.” 

Asian Review (Japan) published an article on air pollution in India, particularly New Delhi. The 21-day lockdown, ordered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to contain the spread of COVID-19 has improved air quality with factories idle, no cars on roads, and most public transportation suspended.  The article quoted from the study, Risk of acute respiratory infection from crop burning […]

Cold Link Online (South Africa) published an article about the vulnerability of South Africa’s poor in the wake of COVID-19. Two-thirds of South African children live in poverty, with one-third in extreme poverty. If IFPRI predictions are correct, the number of poor children in South Africa could increase by between two and five percent as a result of COVID-19. Also, in ShowMe South Africa and Northern News. 

Yahoo India published an op-ed by Mamata Pradhan and Senior Research Fellow Devesh Roy on the next economic steps India should take to recover from the COVID-19 health crisis. Though many regions are creating rationing packages and other safety nets, the authors suggest that only when the markets are running, the safety nets would be […]

Shafaqna (South Africa) published an article on the hunger crisis following the COVID-19 pandemic. IFPRI blog post, Preventing global food security crisis under COVID-19 emergency explained that about 820 million people around the world are currently suffering from hunger. The consequences of the measures imposed because of the COVID-19 pandemic are worsening the difficult nutrition situation and acting as an accelerator […]

QQCom reported on food supplies following the COVID-19 pandemic. Many countries have decided to tighten exports while at the same time, trade businesses have been crippled by COVID-19. Markets, Trade, and Institutions Division Director Rob Vos said, “It is certain that even if (food) production is stopped now, there is no reason for China to worry about an immediate shortage.”  Republished in Zaker, Ifeng.com, Sohu.com (Chinese), The […]