This archive report was first published on 6 January 2020.
As Tanzania entered 2020, residents were met with a harsh reality: higher food prices. The increase in prices was largely blamed on the heavy rains that had been affecting various regions of the country since late 2019.
According to the Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Phillip Mpango, food inflation in the country rose to an average of 6.7% in November 2020, compared to 2% in the previous year.
Dr. Mpango attributed the increase in food prices to transport challenges, marketing infrastructure, warehousing, and the supply chain of food products in certain areas. He also cited food shortages in neighboring countries as a contributing factor, as these countries were attracting Tanzania's exports.
The situation was expected to persist into the first quarter of 2020, with the Tanzania Meteorological Agency forecasting more rains and flash floods across the country.
The regions most affected by the heavy rains were Bunda district near Lake Victoria, Morogoro region in eastern Tanzania, and Mbeya region near the border with Zambia. The rains had destroyed the 80-kilometer road linking the rice-producing Mbarali district to the rest of the country, affecting transportation and contributing to the increase in food prices.
Damage had also been reported on a section of the road linking the food basket region of Iringa to Dodoma city, and several bridges along the highway had been submerged, further exacerbating the transportation challenges.
