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Surging food prices have posed a particular risk to poor people
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April 22, 2008, 06:45
ANC Treasurer General Matthews Phosa says the food security debate must be extended beyond the skyrocketing prices. Speaking in the German capital Berlin where the ANC is meeting political parties from that country, Brazil and India, Phosa said the food crisis had more dimensions on the African continent.
An urgent meeting will be held by SADC to look at high food prices with an appointed committee of ministers to look at this global challenge. The soaring food prices, if left unattended, will have a negative impact on SADC's Millennium Goals.
Navinchandra Ramgoolam, the Mauritius Prime Minister, said: "It is therefore imperative that we move out of 'business as usual' mental frame in order to find effective policies to combat poverty."
Poverty far from over
Higher food prices risk wiping out progress towards reducing poverty and, if allowed to escalate, could hurt global growth and security, says United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Opening a UN trade and development conference in Ghana earlier this week, Ban pledged to use the full force of the world body he heads to tackle the price rises, which threaten to increase hunger and poverty and have already sparked food riots in Asia and Africa.
Steps by several countries to ban exports of rice and wheat or introduce incentives for food imports also threatened to distort international trade and aggravate shortages, Ban said. World Bank President Robert Zoellick has warned that rising food prices could push at least 100 million people in low-income countries into poverty.
Rich nations to blame
West African countries such as Ghana have been among the worst affected by rising food prices caused by factors including poor harvests, record fuel prices, growing demand and tight international supplies. Countries throughout the region, from Mauritania to Cameroon, have witnessed food riots.
Rich nations and industrialised countries were blamed for the climate change which also contributes to the food shortage. Ghanaian President John Kufuor expressed hope the conference would allow developing countries to strengthen economic co-operation and trade, and increase pressure on rich countries to end agricultural subsidies which worsened poverty in Africa.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva joined both Ban and Kufuor in appealing to all countries to wrap up negotiations for a global trade pact intended to boost the world economy and promote development. Known as the Doha Round, the negotiations launched in 2001 have stalled and missed past deadlines but momentum has built up in the past two months. - additional reporting by Reuters
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