The UN food agency has sought a political and financial push to boost sustainable agriculture in poor countries and double global food production, saying that such a move would forge a world of economic and social progress.
According to the latest Food Outlook, a biannual publication by the FAO focusing on developments affecting global food and feed markets, this year's food import bill for the Low Income Food Deficit Countries is forecast to reach $ 169 billion. Characterising this as a 'worrying development' the FAO noted that by the end of this year imports could cost four times as much as they did in 2000.
The grant will make funds available immediately for relief operations and enable several UN agencies, including the World Food Programme, the UN Children's Fund and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, to provide food, shelter, water and sanitation. Citing government statistics, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that over 2,400 people are dead and 1,500 missing after Cyclone Sidr. Over 273,000 houses, 760,000 acres of crop were destroyed.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has proposed cash incentives for farmers adopting eco-friendly practices.In its annual publication, The State of Food and Agriculture 2007, FAO noted that agriculture employs more people and uses more land and water than any other human activity.
Global tea prices are likely to maintain their upward trend this year because of tight supply in the wake of a projected 10 per cent decrease in production in Kenya, according to the latest findings by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations Organisation.
Calvin Miller, senior officer, rural finance, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), is happy with the country's rural finance when compared with the rest of the world.
More than 850 million hungry people around the globe can enjoy a better life if the world sets aside less than three per cent of what it spends on the purchase of arms every year, for the development of agriculture.Pointing out the stark realities of the wasteful spending, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation director general Jacques Diouf on Tuesday appealed to world leaders for US$ 30 billion a year to re-launch agriculture and avert future threats.
The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation on Wednesday said global commodity prices were far from easing in the short term owing to tight supply-demand situation and warned of flare ups over food shortage.The UN FAO director general said the world has 4-5 million tonnes (MT) of cereals stocks that can feed the global population for only 8-12 weeks.
US President George W Bush and his Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice may have their numbers wrong when they accuse China and India of contributing to the global food crisis as a result of growing prosperity-led consumption.
According to the WB datat, February witnessed a 40 per cent rise in coal prices and 24 per cent in rice. To add to that fuel, food, fibre, and metals saw double-digit jump in global prices. Rice went up 24 per cent due to limited export supplies, deteriorating prospects for the next crop, and the impact of higher wheat prices. Lead jumped 18 per cent on falling stocks, strong battery demand in China, and weather-related supply reductions, also in China.
However, India's chances of benefiting from the soaring rates are low following the strengthening of rupee against dollar.
A locust warning issued by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations Organisation has asked India and Pakistan to take immediate steps to safeguard their crops.
Strengthening of rupee has made Indian rice dearer in the international market
A 51-year-old woman member of an NGO from the city was among five Indians on board the Malaysian airliner that is presumed to have crashed into sea off Vietnamese coast and her family is shattered by the news.
'The slaughter and handling of infected poultry poses the greatest risks,' says FAO official Dr Samuel Jutzi.
UN Food and Agriculture Organisation has created a new Internet portal that provides access to a large variety of information and online training materials related to rural finance.
Edible insects such as caterpillars and grubs should be considered an alternative source of nutrition in the effort to overcome food insecurity in central African countries, a new study by the United Nations food agency has said.
Food companies would not need to seek product approval from FSSAI if they meet these norms
The level of poverty is lower in Europe than in other regions but the significance lies in the fact that the region encompasses some of the richest countries.
Flood in the rice bowl: Keralites who lost everything stare at uncertainty.
The government is likely to firm up next week a view on how to go about the food security bill. Indications to this effect were available on Wednesday with the government sources saying a decision will be taken only after Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar's return from Rome where he has gone to attend Food and Agriculture Organisation conference.
India is home to the highest number of hungry people in the world.
The FAO price index measures monthly price changes for a basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat and sugar.
Global Food Price Index showed a sharp jump in June.
The FAO's price index, which measures monthly price changes for a basket of grains, oilseeds, dairy, meat and sugar, averaged 207.8 points last month as compared with 214.6 points in May 2013, falling nearly 3.2 per cent.
'India, by virtue of its gigantic population and geography, stands at the very front line of this climate catastrophe.' 'But this is a threat that our easily distracted national mind is ill-equipped to think about, let alone plan for,' says Rahul Jacob.
Camel milk is an excellent source of iron and protein when compared to cow milk. It also has high Vitamin B3 and good probiotics. With the variety of nutrients camel milk has, experts feel it should be labelled a superfood.
In India, Sartaj Azizis respected as a man of grace, wit and patience. He is a wizened soldier of many diplomatic battles between the two neighbouring nations
It would also be the fifth month of consecutive drops in the index.
Ambassador Islam A'Isi' Siddiqui -- who recently resigned from his position as chief agricultural negotiator in the office of the United States trade representative -- has joined the Center for Strategic and International Studies as senior adviser on Global Food Security.
'The idea behind the new rules is that slaughter markets must buy directly from the farms as is the case in the bloody world.' 'The cattle markets have become centres for the organised beef mafia.'
'I will be happy if walls are built between India and China!' 'We are going to nooks and corners of the country to make ordinary people realise the need to buy Indian goods so that our workers get jobs.'
Since 2000, India has had three serious droughts.
In a country where 35 to 40 per cent of food is not consumed, the government urgently needs to reduce wastage to an acceptable level.
Those who have a long-range mission of true nation-building will pay close attention to World Bank's new action plan for fairness in all matters of land use, says Rajni Bakshi.
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