The Confederation of Indian Industry expressing concern over the rising food prices, has called for an immidiate global response to tackle the crisis.

"We need to build a global platform for dialogue and action to manage the crisis," said CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee.

He said the entire issue of spiralling food prices needs to be seen in a global perspective rather than an issue limited to specific countries.

CII is of the view that diversion of food to bio-fuels, changing weather conditions across the globe and huge agricultural subsidies are some of the factors leading to rising food prices.

CII opines that a global discussion on the crisis might help building stronger information networks on consumption and production so that corrective measures can be taken across the globe to avert such a crisis. It also advised to develop global food management system under Food and Agricultural Organisation.

Banerjee said that CII has been proactively campaigning for reforms in agriculture. The CII Task Force on food will look into improving productivity, bridging yeild gap and encouraging private sector participation in distribution of food, he said.

CII is working on an agenda for developing second generation of bio-fuels which do not eat into the food stock or impinge on agricultural land, he added.

Inflation, the silent killer