UN agencies tasked with tackling global hunger have highlighted the need for concerted efforts to address the root-causes and underscoring the need to ensure that children have enough to eat.
To mark the annual World Food Day on Sunday, UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) noted that price fluctuation, especially upswings, are a major threat to food security in the developing countries where the poor are particularly hit hard. It cited World Bank data indicating that rising food costs pushed nearly 70 million people into extreme poverty in 2010-11.
FAO chose the theme of 'Food Prices - From Crisis to Stability' for this year's day to shed light on the trend and what can be done to mitigate its impact on the most vulnerable. "Greater policy co-ordination in international food trade can reduce volatility by helping maintain an assured flow of goods. FAO supports multilateral negotiations under the World Trade Organisation and the elimination of trade-distorting agricultural subsidies in rich countries," according to the agency's information note.
On food commodities' speculation, FAO research suggests that while it might not trigger price movements, it could exaggerate their size and duration. Mitigating the effects of price volatility, national or regional safety nets, possibly featuring emergency food reserves, can help ensure food supplies to needy and vulnerable groups during crises, according to FAO. Poor consumers can also be assisted with cash or food vouchers and producers helped with inputs such as fertiliser and seeds.
UN World Food Programme (WFP), for its part, is marking the day with an effort to connect the lives and dreams of hungry children in developing countries with activists and supporters who are in a position to help them, through a new online platform. "Good nutritious food is the very foundation of healthy children and nations. It is time for us to end hunger and malnutrition among children once and for all," said Josette Sheeran, WFP Executive Director.
"But many children never get to realise their ambitions. Good nutrition provides the basic foundation for a better future. The onus is on all of us to mobilise the resources and awareness to make the dreams of every child come true."