Why that simple meal costs more than you think

A report by a United Nations agency has revealed that millions of people, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, still find it difficult to put a simple meal on the table.

Researchers at the World Food Programme calculated how much a plate of food would cost someone in New York if they were paying the same percentage of income as the residents of 36 countries. With New Yorkers paying $1.26 (Sh137), the equivalent cost in Kenya would be $12.84 (Sh1,393) for a simple meal.

The report titled The Cost of A Plate of Food–2020 reveals that a basic meal is beyond the reach of millions even as the Covid-19 pandemic joins conflict, climate change and economic troubles in pushing up levels of hunger around the world.