UN food official calls for measures to settle global food crisis

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Source: CCTV.com | 04-24-2008 08:56

The head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization says the world faces a global catastophe if steps aren't taken now to cut the rising costs of food staples.

Speaking in Paris, the director general of the UN organization warned that greater assistance to the Third World is required to boost domestic food production.

Jacques Diouf, Director General of UN Food & Agriculture Organization said "If we provide this assistance, these resources, to those who need it, so that they can feed themselves, so that they can have access to food at reasonable prices, and if at the same time we help the poor farmers of the Third World to have access to more expensive inputs to boost domestic production, naturally we will have less riots."

The director general says the way to avoid the impending catastrophe is not to look for scapegoats, but rather for possible solutions.

Rising costs, stoked by fuel prices, unpredictable weather, and increased demand, have already sparked violent protests across the Caribbean, Africa and Asia.

Risig food costs have already sparked violent protests  across the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia.(CCTV.com)

The World Bank estimates that food prices have risen by 83 percent in three years in some parts of the world.

The World Food Program says 20 million of the poorest children around the world are threatened by what is being called the first global food crisis since World War Two.

Editor:Xiong Qu