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.
T Nanda Kumar, former food and agriculture secretary, shared his memories of working with former prime minister Manmohan Singh during some of India's most challenging times, highlighting Singh's compassionate leadership and commitment to ensuring food security for all Indians. Kumar recalled Singh's steadfast support during the 2008 global food crisis, where he championed a ban on non-basmati rice exports to secure domestic supplies. Singh's leadership, characterized by intellect and humility, left a lasting impression on Kumar, who considered him a mentor and guiding light.
World Food Programme executive director Josette Sheeran said the organisation is hoping to reach 108 million people in 74 countries this year with food aid, but the UN body expects to receive only $3.7 billion of the $6.7 billion needed for 2009.
The roots of the global food situation lie far beyond the scope of interest rates and cash reserves.
What is going to happen to our world when hundreds of millions more people cannot afford to feed themselves?
Biden welcomed Prime Minister Modi at the Summit and said "it is wonderful to see you again in person".
The widely held notion that supply constraints, coupled with protectionist policies (read export bans) in several food-surplus countries, including India, were the prime causes of the problem has virtually been discounted by this global food policy think tank.
Top UN officials on Friday praised the recent $20 billion pledge made by G8 countries to boost food security in developing and poor countries.
Unlike United States President George W Bush, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev on Wednesday hailed the growth of food consumption in India and China as he sought expansion of the United Nations Security Council to include some 'most important states' to address the global food crisis. "we need to rejoice that millions of people are coming out of poverty and can afford a normal diet. Our planet is capable of feeding them," he said.
Growth of food consumption in rapidly developing India and China is named as the primary reason for the crisis, which some have dubbed as 'silent tsunami,' the former Soviet President wrote in the official Rossiskaya Gazeta daily. "This is an objective reason: we need to rejoice that millions of people are coming out of poverty and can afford normal diet. Our planet is capable of feeding them," he said.
"It also, however, increases demand. So, for example, just as an interesting thought for you, there are 350 million people in India who are classified as middle class. That's bigger than America. Their middle class is larger than our entire population." "And when you start getting wealth, you start demanding better nutrition and better food, and so demand is high, and that causes the price to go up," Bush said.
And she has blamed the 'growing Indian and Chinese appetite in contributing to the global food crisis'. The US Secretary of State is technically correct since both the countries dominate the world food consumption. But analysts feel she is morally and socially wrong.
The two crises are linked as, among the causes of rising prices, is the diversion of food crops for production of ethanol in an effort to cut down on consumption of oil. Referring to the expansion of the Security Council reform, Kerim conceded that sharp differences remain among the member States despite 14 years of discussions, pointing out that the only position on which all agree is that the current composition does not reflect the current realties.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said that he was not aware of Pakistan's proposal that both India and Pakistan should release every prisoner belonging to the neighbouring country. Asked when he was planning to visit Pakistan, Dr Singh said that he would wait till things settle down in the neighbouring country. However, Dr Singh steered clear of the controversy about United States George W Bush attributing the global food crisis to the prosperity in India.
'Food grain availability for India's poorest is now approaching levels that haven't been seen since the British left. This has everything, sadly, to do with the rapacity of India's elites,' says Raj Patel, author, Stuffed and Starved.
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