Maize production for the 2020/21 season may be at or above average in most of Mozambique and grain prices started to fall in AprilAccording to an analysis consulted on Monday by Lusa, one of the country's food bases.

"In April, as the harvest began, the price of corn grain decreased by between 6% and 45% compared to March," reads the document from the Famine Early Warning Network (Fews network), which supports the actions of government and humanitarian agencies.

Corn grain prices are estimated to "continue to decline" through July, as they do seasonally, driven by "increased availability in local markets."

On the other hand, "the price of cornmeal and rice remained stable between March and April."

"The appreciation of the metical against the dollar should lead to a stabilization of prices for cornmeal and rice and prices are unlikely to fall in the short term," the network perspectives.

The majority of the Mozambican population practices subsistence agriculture, and corn is one of the most widespread crops with several food uses.

According to the Fews network, the agricultural harvest of various commodities, currently underway, is gradually improving food security, with much of the country facing minimal risks (between levels 1 and 2 on a scale going up to 5, severe hunger)

"However, the armed conflict in Cabo Delgado continues to disrupt the livelihoods of families," causing the region to face Level 3 and even Level 4 food insecurity, in the case of families who are "in inaccessible areas and hiding in the bush."

On the other hand, as noted in previous reports, the paper highlights that many covid-19 prevention measures continue to worsen pockets of hunger in urban centers.

The restrictions "continue to limit income opportunities for most poor urban households, exacerbating signs of Level 2 insecurity and causing the most affected households to face Level 3 insecurity, i.e. food crisis," forcing them to cut meals.

"Border control measures to control the spread of covid-19, as evidenced by a recent covid-19 test, continue to restrict informal cross-border trade and limit the entry of migrants working in South Africa," he adds.