There is first of all the increase in food prices, due to many reasons (the use of raw food material for the production of fuel alternatives, the rising costs of food transportation due to rising energy costs...). But many of the poorest countries in the world buy only a very small percentages of their food from the international markets and hence do not feel the immediate effects of the rising food prices. The bulk of their food comes from national markets, and often these markets are managed poorly, suffer from natural disasters and drought, and are obstructed by the policies of local dictatorships (e.g. Zimbabwe where many of the problems are the direct effect of the misguided policies of the government) or failed states.