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| UN warns on soaring food prices | UN warns on soaring food prices |
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| The soaring cost of food is threatening millions of people in poor countries, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has warned. | The soaring cost of food is threatening millions of people in poor countries, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has warned. |
| Food prices have risen an unprecedented 40% in the last year and many nations may be unable to cope, the agency says. | Food prices have risen an unprecedented 40% in the last year and many nations may be unable to cope, the agency says. |
| It is calling for help for farmers in poor countries to buy seeds and fertiliser, and for a review of the impact of bio-fuels on food production. | It is calling for help for farmers in poor countries to buy seeds and fertiliser, and for a review of the impact of bio-fuels on food production. |
| The FAO says 37 countries face food crises due to conflict and disaster. | The FAO says 37 countries face food crises due to conflict and disaster. |
| ¿Without support for poor farmers and their families in the hardest-hit countries, they will not be able to cope," said FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf. | |
| The agency's food price index has jumped almost 40% from last year, hitting its highest level since its inception in 1990. | The agency's food price index has jumped almost 40% from last year, hitting its highest level since its inception in 1990. |
| Urgent action | Urgent action |
| The increases are partly due to droughts and floods linked to climate change, as well as rising oil prices boosting demand for bio-fuels, the FAO said. | The increases are partly due to droughts and floods linked to climate change, as well as rising oil prices boosting demand for bio-fuels, the FAO said. |
| The FAO director general has warned millions could be at riskChanging diet in fast-developing nations such as China is also considered a factor, with more land needed to raise livestock to meet increasing demand for meat. | The FAO director general has warned millions could be at riskChanging diet in fast-developing nations such as China is also considered a factor, with more land needed to raise livestock to meet increasing demand for meat. |
| International cereal prices have already sparked food riots in several countries, the FAO points out. | International cereal prices have already sparked food riots in several countries, the FAO points out. |
| The organisation is calling for urgent action to provide small farmers in these countries with improved access to seeds, fertiliser and other inputs to increase crop production. | The organisation is calling for urgent action to provide small farmers in these countries with improved access to seeds, fertiliser and other inputs to increase crop production. |
| Mr Diouf pointed to what he described as "spectacular results" in Malawi, where a scheme of vouchers for farmers, combined with sufficient rains, had produced a surplus of maize nationally. | Mr Diouf pointed to what he described as "spectacular results" in Malawi, where a scheme of vouchers for farmers, combined with sufficient rains, had produced a surplus of maize nationally. |
| The impact of the growth of bio-fuels would be assessed in depth at a high-level conference in June, Mr Diouf said. | The impact of the growth of bio-fuels would be assessed in depth at a high-level conference in June, Mr Diouf said. |
| The use of land to grow plants which can be used to make alternative fuels - and the use of food crops themselves for fuel - has reduced food supplies and helped push up prices. | The use of land to grow plants which can be used to make alternative fuels - and the use of food crops themselves for fuel - has reduced food supplies and helped push up prices. |