This study investigated the impact of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak on prices of maize, sorghum, imported rice and local rice in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We estimated dynamic panel data models with controls for macroeconomic setting using general method of moments estimation. The study found that the COVID-19 outbreak led to increases in food prices of the sampled countries. Restrictions on movements or lockdowns in the wake of COVID-19 was associated with an increase in the price of maize only. We also found that exchange rate, inflation and crude oil prices exerted a detrimental effect on food prices. We recommend that governments of SSA countries invest in infrastructure that improves efficiencies in the food supply chain during pandemics. Providing adequate support to industries in the value chain will also improve food availability and food price stability post-COVID-19.

中文翻译：

---

COVID-19 和撒哈拉以南非洲地区的食品价格

本研究调查了 2019 年新型冠状病毒病 (COVID-19) 爆发对撒哈拉以南非洲 (SSA) 玉米、高粱、进口大米和当地大米价格的影响。我们使用一般的矩估计方法估计了具有宏观经济设置控制的动态面板数据模型。研究发现，COVID-19 疫情导致样本国家食品价格上涨。COVID-19 后的行动限制或封锁仅与玉米价格上涨有关。我们还发现，汇率、通货膨胀和原油价格对食品价格产生不利影响。我们建议撒哈拉以南非洲国家政府投资基础设施，以提高大流行期间食品供应链的效率。为价值链中的行业提供充分的支持还将改善 COVID-19 后的粮食供应和粮食价格稳定性。