The prices of most food in Latin America and the Caribbean continue being high, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in a research document on Friday, Xinhua reported.
In 78 percent of the cases the prices are higher than one year ago, according to the research made by the Hunger Observatory from the FAO Regional office in Santiago.
In Central America the price of the white corn, an important element of local diet, in February was between 20 and 25 percent more expensive than last year, FAO said.
The yearly accumulated inflation of foods between March 2008 and March 2009 in the region was of 9.9 percent, superior to the general inflation of 6.5 percent, it added.
FAO foresees that the cereals world production will be reduced 3 percent regarding the record of a year earlier.
It will also be a reduction on corn production due to the bad climate conditions and the high prices of the concerned articles needed, FAO said.