WFP Minimum Expenditure Basket (MEB) Round 39 and 40 - October 2021

This is the report of the Minimum Expenditure Basket (MEB) marking Rounds 39 and 40 of data collection (aggregated), which covers the periods of October 4th- 8th and October 18th- 22nd, 2021.

Key findings captured in this analysis include:

• During this reporting period, the Survival Minimum Expenditure Baskets (SMEBs) rose across all regions in the country. In urban areas, the SMEB increased by 5.0 percent. The rural Northern, Central and Southern Regions registered an increase of 8.4 percent, 7.0 percent, and 3.8 percent, respectively. The increase in SMEBs mainly emanated from a significant rise in prices of cooking oil, cassava, and firewood.
• Maize grain was trading at an average price of MK 151 per kg, slightly above the Government-set minimum farm gate price of MK 150 per kg. The current price represents a one percent rise from Round 38 price of MK 149 per kg (collected between 20 and 24 September 2021). The price of maize grain this cycle is expected to peak between January and February 2022.
• Beans are currently selling at a record high price of MK 1,082 per kg. This represents a two percent increase from the price in the last round (Round 38).
• Cowpeas prices slightly decreased by one percent to MK 605 per kg, while the price of pigeon peas remained at MK 514 per kg between Round 38 and Round 40.