High food prices threaten poor countries, FAO warns
FAO believes high food prices pose a threat to poor countries
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in a report released on the 10th that although the world will have a bumper grain harvest in 2009, high food prices still pose a serious threat to poor countries.
The FAO said in the report that although the world grain output in 2009 is encouraging, food prices have not fallen in countries dependent on food imports, and people in the world's 31 poorest countries are still struggling with hunger and food shortages and need emergency assistance. Persistently high food prices are one of the important reasons why the number of hungry people in the world exceeds 1 billion.
The report said that for the world's poorest people, the food crisis is far from over. Although global food prices have fallen significantly compared with the peak period two years ago, wheat and corn prices remained firm in October, and rice export prices are still above pre-food-crisis levels.
The FAO said that although grain output in North Africa this year is expected to increase substantially over last year, many parts of the African continent still face the threat of hunger. The situation in East Africa is especially severe, with drought and regional instability forcing about 20 million people to rely on food aid to survive.
The FAO will hold the World Summit on Food Security in Rome from November 16 to 18.
The FAO said in the report that although the world grain output in 2009 is encouraging, food prices have not fallen in countries dependent on food imports, and people in the world's 31 poorest countries are still struggling with hunger and food shortages and need emergency assistance. Persistently high food prices are one of the important reasons why the number of hungry people in the world exceeds 1 billion.
The report said that for the world's poorest people, the food crisis is far from over. Although global food prices have fallen significantly compared with the peak period two years ago, wheat and corn prices remained firm in October, and rice export prices are still above pre-food-crisis levels.
The FAO said that although grain output in North Africa this year is expected to increase substantially over last year, many parts of the African continent still face the threat of hunger. The situation in East Africa is especially severe, with drought and regional instability forcing about 20 million people to rely on food aid to survive.
The FAO will hold the World Summit on Food Security in Rome from November 16 to 18.