Stories of food riots and increasing hunger because of high prices have moved off the front pages but the problem remains, says a United Nations report.
In its annual report, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization noted that prices for most commodities have dropped in world markets since the world food crisis in late 2006 and 2007.
However, that has not always translated to lower prices in poor countries, where food price levels often mean the balance between health and hunger.
“After a phase with soaring prices, international commodity prices have come down,” said the report.
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“However, international food prices remain high by historical standards and in many cases, domestic consumer prices have been slow in receding.”
It is particularly the case in poor underdeveloped countries and regions where most of the record billion people now considered chronically undernourished live.
The report said a survey last year found that international prices for corn, wheat, sorghum and rice were significantly lower than levels a year earlier and more than 50 percent lower than peak levels in 2008.
“The situation for domestic cereal prices in developing countries contrasted sharply with this trend,” said the FAO report.
“In about 80 percent of the countries covered by the database, the latest nominal price quotations were higher than 12 months earlier.”
In sub-Saharan African countries, the news was even more dramatic with prices for most food staples much higher than the previous year.
The report blamed it in part on poorly functioning markets.
