Africa food security under threat due to Iran war, trade officials warn

What the report says

African trade officials and a senior UN trade body representative say the conflict involving Iran is pushing up fuel and fertiliser costs across the continent, with possible knock-on effects for food supplies and prices. Al Jazeera reported the comments from the World Investment Forum in Doha, Qatar, held on October 25-26, where officials linked disruption in and around the Strait of Hormuz to wider economic pressure in Africa.

Luz Maria de la Mora of UN Trade and Development said fertiliser prices had risen sharply and warned that some countries were already reducing use of the input, which could affect next year’s crops. She said the crisis should be resolved quickly because it may influence both food availability and food prices. The article said the wider disruption has also affected supply chains and energy markets beyond the immediate conflict zone.

Officials from Zimbabwe and Uganda described different levels of vulnerability. Zimbabwe’s Monica Mutsvangwa said rising fuel and fertiliser prices were a major concern in an economy heavily dependent on agriculture. Uganda’s Sanjay Tanna said fuel prices had more than doubled, though domestic food production has offered some protection. He also noted pressure on the Ugandan shilling, while saying the country remains relatively resilient because it grows much of its own food.

The report also placed the issue in a broader development context, with African officials arguing for more investment, stronger infrastructure and local processing to reduce dependence on imported inputs and external shocks.