The Jesuit Center for Theological Reflection – JCTR’s Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket – BNNB which measures the cost of living for a family of 5 stood at K7, 015.90 for the month of February 2020, recording a 5.33 percent decline from K7, 410.96 in January 2020.
The basket between January and February 2020 reduced by K395.06, however, when compared to same month February 2019, the basket stood at K5, 331.12, which is an increase year on year of about 32%.
JCTR stated that the drop in the February 2020 food basket was mainly attributed to a reduction in the prices of food items such as fresh fruit snd vegetables which reduced from K669.77 in January to K391.00 in February for a monthly requirement of 40kg.
Other fruits also reduced from K439.93 to K369.04, kapenta reduced from K299.07 to K202.73, onion moved from K150.88 to K58.19 and tomatoes prices reduced from K118.58 to K60.92.
JCTR communications officer Enock Ngoma has told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT on March 6, 2020 that the price reduction in the noted food items is attributed to the favourable rainfalls that the country has experienced in the past months which led to an increase in the production of fruits and vegetables making them readily available and affordable.
“The reduction in the price of kapenta can be attributed to the lift of the fish ban on Lake Kariba and Lake Tanganyika”. In February 2019, kapenta again recorded a K45.33 price decline.
In the February 2020 food basket, a few items, however, recorded price increases. The price of soya pieces increased to K128.85 in February from K83.50 in January 2020. The price of eggs also moved up from K83.11 to K95.14 for the same time period,” he added.
JCTR therefore notes with concern that the reduction in the cost of living may not be sustained as this may be because food items such as vegetables contributing to this reduction are greatly affected by seasonality and the amount of rainfall that the country records.
The center has since reiterated the need for Government to increase resource allocation and commitment to a more sustainable climate resilient agriculture sector adding that this will significantly contribute to more consistent supply of some foods and help keep prices low.
