Both berbere and teff are bought in large amounts, enough to last from ½ a year to a full year. Berbere had been 600 Birr/ 17 kg. (that was about $55 for about 37 lbs., families usually buy in bulk, in part to save money and in part because they use it so often) about 6-9 months ago. Then it spiked to over 1,300 Birr for a short time sending the nation in shock. Rumor had it that the reddish-brown spice was being sold to the Chinese to make color for paint! But the price settled back to the current price of 800 Birr/ 17 kg. (about $76 at the current price and exchange rate of 9.5 Birr/ 1 USD).
At the same time teff was selling at 550 Birr/ 1 quintal (about $51/ 220 lbs) but over the past 6 months the price has risen to the current 800 Birr, an almost 70% increase. Wheat has gone from 400 to 650 and corn from 270 to 450. The price of meat has also increased. A full grown sheep has gone from 800 to 1200, cows from 4000 to 6000, all increases in the 60% range.
Ethiopian food, injera is the large ‘pancake’ and the rolled up pieces of bread. The rest of the food is collared greens, meats, spices.
When the average person makes anywhere from 10-80 Birr per day (and many are unemployed) any increase in food prices suddenly means that families have to do without. Perhaps without shelter (one sees a lot of homelessness here in Addis), perhaps without food. We have heard stories from several schools in Addis where the children are coming to school without any meals at home. So at lunch instead of going out to play, they put their heads on their desks and sleep. This is so they can conserve energy. Obviously kids that don’t eat also don’t perform well in the classroom. So schools are scrambling solutions. A couple of schools that we know have found donors who provide either money to purchase food or the food itself and feed a basic lunch to the students. MCC has been helping out our school next door with assistance, but the need is widespread.
Ethiopians are under pressure. It is hard to believe that a country with so much potential continues to struggle. This land just above the equator (same latitude as Costa Rica) has such a beautiful climate, even the rainy season has its own beauty. The mountainous central part of Ethiopia catches the rain as it comes out of the west and feeds the multitude of streams and rivers that eventually make their way to the Blue Nile tributary basin. There would be enough water if it were conserved. The soil would sufficiently grow crops if it were utilized properly. There would be no erosion if trees were harvested properly and soil was nurtured. And this could be a real tourist attraction if the social and political conditions were right. A lot of ‘ifs’, true. Ethiopia has a long way to go.
So the next time you recite the Lord’s Prayer, when you come to the part, “Give us this day our daily bread”, remember the children of Ethiopia and pray that they may receive more than one meal a day . . .
