|
UN to set up task force to deal with food crisis |
|
"Make no mistake: the problem is serious", was how the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon sounded the threat of the global crisis that has skyrocketed food prices. |
"If not handled properly, this crisis could trigger a cascade of other multiple crises becoming a multidimensional problem affecting economic growth, social progress, and even political security around the world", said the UN boss.
The Secretary-General was worried about the rising concern of world food shortage that has seen the price of food soaring to all-time highs.
Mr Ban was speaking at the opening of the twelfth session of the United Nations Conference of Trade and Development in Accra, which is under the theme, ‘Addressing the Opportunities and Challenges of Globalisation for Development'.
"Scarcely a day passes without some new manifestation. We have seen food protests from Egypt to Haiti to Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso. Some nations have barred the export of rice or wheat; others have moved to create financial incentives for importing additional supplies. This threatens to distort international trade and exacerbate shortages", he warned.
"In this regard, I will immediately establish a high-powered Task Force, comprised of eminent experts and leading policy authorities to address this issue", adding that he would "invest the full force of my office to galvanise international action, starting right now."
According to the World Food Programme, the price of essential agricultural staples wheat, corn and other cereals has gone up by more than half over the last six months. Rice sets new records almost daily. One Asian nation recently sought to buy from a neighbour.
Instead of the expected price of $400, per metric tonne, the quote was $500. By the time the would-be purchasers came back with authorization from their government, the price had increased to $750—if supplies were available at all.
But he was however hopeful saying "let us not be necessarily alarmed. We have a great tool-box. We know what to do. We can muster the resources and the political will. We should consider this not only a short-term problem but a long-term opportunity."
"We need a real world and not the world of economic theories …..I will work into this right now with a sense of urgency," Ban said, and urged the international committee to redouble efforts in addressing the situation.
Mr Ban said global economic growth could suffer if the food crisis was not handled with the seriousness it deserved.
High oil prices, which have resulted in increasing transportation cost, the continuous fall in the value of the US dollar as well as changes in the global consumption pattern are some of the reasons being cited for the crisis.
"One thing is certain, the world has consumed more than it has produced," Mr Ban said.
In response to the crisis, the World Food programme intends to raise $750 million annually to feed 73 million people in 80 countries.
Efforts must also be made to increase agricultural production, improved market efficiency and launch a green agricultural revolution in Africa.
"We must make no mistakes, the problem is big. If we offer the right aid the solutions will come."
On globalisation, Mr Ban said while the process had chalked some successes transforming the economies of some developing countries, it has also led to the marginalisation of the majority of the people.
"The poorest of the world poor are not being pulled along and there is the need for fresh thinking and fresh approaches."
Mr Ban urged the rich countries to assist the poorer ones through initiatives such as aid to trade, which is a better to bring out of poverty.
He also touched on the Millennium Development Goals and warned that the world risked losing the progress that had been made in the past seven years in attainment of the goals.
"We risk going back to square one and we need to redouble efforts or betray the promises that we made to our people," he said.
In this connection, Mr Ban said a high level meeting on the MDGs will beheld on the sidelines of the General Assembly of the UN.
|
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form
