PAP calls for food subsidies for the poor

The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) has called on African governments to alleviate the soaring food prices by subsidising food prices for the poor. Acting Chairperson of PAP’s Committee on Rural Economy and Agriculture, Athumani Janguo, says it is of grave concern that over 30 million Africans are facing hunger and starvation.

The world is gripped by soaring food prices and South Africans have not been spared the hardship. The PAP says the situation on the African continent is worsened by some states that continuously refuse to implement the agreement of the African Union (AU) to spend at least 10% of their budget allocations on the agricultural sector.

Janguo said it was disturbing that only six of the 53 countries on the continent had adhered to the agreement. He said PAP was concerned about the current tendencies by African leaders to prioritise spending money on clinging to political power instead of helping the poor.

PAP's recommendation came amid efforts by the UN to organise a world summit to discuss the rising food prices.