African countries are replacing wheat with local rice, cassava flour, and sorghum

Due to a significant increase in wheat prices, reached at 40% this year, primarily due to the Russian invasion limiting exports, especially from Ukraine, several African countries are replacing wheat in their bread and pastry industries with cheaper local alternatives like rice, cassava flour, and sorghum. This shift aims to mitigate the impacts of trade disruptions and global inflation, which have kept food prices near record highs. Countries such as Kenya are experiencing inflation surges, with Kenya's inflation rate hitting 6.5% in April, largely due to wheat imports. As a response, Kenyan manufacturers are pivoting towards rice and legume production, and pasta manufacturers are experimenting with recipes that exclude wheat in favor of rice flour, corn, and lentils. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is launching a program to boost cassava flour production for bread and pastries, with the hope of reducing reliance on imported wheat and mitigating the economic effects of the Ukrainian crisis.