• Shift in seasons continues to affect price movements in selected items on the basket.
• Price of imported goods such as fruits has continued to go down.
• Need for the National Food and Nutrition Commission to sustain implementation of context specific interventions in rural areas.

Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) reveals the cost of living for a family of five living in Lusaka as measured by the JCTR Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket (BNNB) in the month of October 2021 has reduced to K8, 268.72 Ngwee.
JCTR Social and Economic Development Programme Manager Chama Mundia, explained in a statement issued to Money FM News that this was a K205.73Ngwee decrease from K8, 474.45Ngwee recorded in September 2021.
“The downward movement in the basket is attributed to reduced prices of items such as 40kg of vegetables which went down by K73.13 from K511.75 to K438.62, 14kg of other fruits which reduced by K61.58 from K376.23 to K314.65. “
According to Mrs. Mundia, “additional reductions were noted in 10 litres of milk which moved to K244.26 from K291.29, a K47.03 drop, 16kg of bananas went down by K29.6 from K218.07 to K188.47, 1kg pounded groundnut reduced to K34.95 from K60.51, a K25.54 decline, 3 trays of eggs went down by K18.86 from K157.28 to K138.42, and 5kg of chicken reduced by K15.35 to K290.72kg from K306.06.
She however said , the October basket also recorded price increases when recorded in items such as 1kg of kapenta which increased by K64.31 from K226.32 to K290.63, 6kg of cassava meal which went up by K19.7 from K78.01 to K97.71 and 4kg of rice that rose by K11.56 from K78.67 to K90.23.
Mrs. Mundia further noted the shift in seasons continues to affect price movements in selected items on the basket such as that of vegetables.

She added that following drastic movement in exchange rate in the month of August, the price of imported goods such as fruits has continued to go down.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Mundia pointed out that JCTR emphasized on the need for the National Food and Nutrition Commission to sustain implementation of context specific interventions in rural areas to ensure the country moves in a positive direction in the fight against malnutrition.

Mrs. Mundia reveals in the concluded 2 quarter Rural Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket by JCTR, findings indicate that there is deficiency in required caloric intake quantities as well as quality in Magoye Nyama areas.

“The study further noted that price increases in food items has negatively impacted household access to this basic need.” She said.

“This is because, while certain households grow their own food, the growing and consumption of maize dominates’ adding that this affects food diversity and household nutrition outcomes.