Sunday, January 31, 2010

The Developing World is Hungry for Global Food Security


UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon delivered a message that reiterated his commitment to the assurance of global food security.

Mr. Ban noted the many factors that were responsible for creating the crisis, including the inability of farmers to produce enough food to meet demands due to the fluctuating of prices within volatile markets as well as a trading system that hinders their access to markets at a fair price.

Citing that smallholder farmers are hit particularly hard, many poor people often have to make the choice of caring for their children or earning an income - often leaving a dispropotionate number of women and children malnourished.

Mr. Ban reiterated the promise made by the G20 that includes a comprehensive, country-led and coordinated approach to food security that includes long-term investment to support it in addition to an African led campaign that increases investments in agriculture, infrastructure and food processing programs.

- Tiffanie Depew

SOURCE: UN News Centre