Urgent changes needed in global agri policies: UN

Urgent changes needed in global agri policies: UN

Dharam Shourie
United Nations, July 19 (PTI) The United Nations has said that there is an "urgent need" to bring about changes in the global agricultural policies to meet the threats of soaring food and energy prices.

Reducing subsidies, lifting tariffs and other trade barriers would stimulate food production and offer a route to development for 180 million small farmers in Africa, Srgjan Kerim, UN General Assembly President told the 192-member Assembly.

"The food crisis therefore offers a win-win opportunity for the international community to collectively agree to policies that promote trade efficiency while also boosting agricultural production and reducing the vulnerability of the poorest around the world," Kerim stressed.

Welcoming the proposal by the European Commission for a special funding facility to provide more than USD 1.5 billion for a rapid response to the global food crisis, UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon called for a Global Partnership for Food, which would help bring together governments, donors, UN agencies, international financial institutions, business, academic communities and civil society to meet the MDGs.

MDGs are a set of eight anti-poverty targets to be achieved worldwide by 2015.

Informing that between USD 25 and USD 40 billion is required annually to boost agricultural production and to assist farmers around the world, Ban warned that the double jeopardy of high food and fuel prices could undermine the much of the progress made in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

"If we do not seek lasting solutions now, more children will die each day, more families will go to bed hungry. The threats left to the next generation will be even greater," he said.

According to a research by the International Monetary Fund, rise in food and oil prices could severely weaken the economies of up to 75 developing countries.

The World Bank has also estimated that rising costs could reduce the gross domestic product (GDP) of up to 50 countries by 3 to 10 per cent, pushing at least 100 million people into poverty. PTI