*Global Rice Prices Soar as India's Export Ban Sparks Supply Concerns*

Kenyan rice prices have surged due to higher fertilizer costs and a prolonged drought in the Horn of Africa, forcing residents of Nairobi's Kibera slum, many living on less than $2 a day, to turn to cheap Indian imports.

However, the situation has shifted as India, the world's largest rice exporter, announced a ban on some rice shipments, resulting in a 20% increase in the price of a 25-kilogram rice bag since June.

India's move, aimed at controlling domestic prices for an upcoming election year, has created a global rice shortage of approximately 9.5 million metric tons, or one-fifth of global exports.

The rice supply chain is increasingly strained as prices continue to surge due to a variety of factors, including India's ban on some rice exports to control domestic prices. These price hikes have created a significant global shortage, endangering food security, particularly in poorer nations.

Russia's halt to Ukrainian wheat exports and the El Nino weather phenomenon's impact on rice production have already threatened global food stability. The situation could worsen if other countries follow India's lead in restricting rice exports. The United Arab Emirates has already suspended rice exports to maintain domestic stocks.

Extreme weather events resulting from climate change, like the current El Nino, could further exacerbate the rice supply crisis, impacting rice-dependent countries worldwide, particularly in Africa. Despite efforts by some nations to boost domestic rice production, challenges persist in achieving food security.

In Senegal, rising rice prices have prompted people to turn to homegrown rice as imported rice, mainly from India, becomes too expensive. While Senegal is not far from achieving self-sufficiency in rice production, it plans to seek rice imports from other countries like Thailand or Cambodia.

In the Philippines, concerns over rice supply arose due to the El Nino weather phenomenon and typhoons damaging rice crops. The country is the world's second-largest rice importer, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasizes the need for adequate buffers.

India's rice export restrictions are driven by erratic weather, making it an unreliable exporter and potentially disrupting markets it has spent years developing. In contrast, Vietnam, another major rice exporter, seeks to capitalize on high export prices and increased production, targeting markets like the United Kingdom.

However, the uncertainty surrounding India's actions and El Nino's effects have left rice exporters cautious about taking orders. Price fluctuations and the risk involved have made exporters reluctant to commit to sales, affecting rice markets worldwide.