NAIROBI: Former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan Saturday told governments to invest more in agriculture to avoid future food crises, but warned that current shortages would hurt the poor.
Annan said the surging price of basic foods like rice, wheat and corn in some of the world s poorest countries, which have triggered riots in Haiti and demonstrations in some African countries, will last for sometime.
Factors contributing to the rise include the increasing demand for biofuels, and the rising cost of oil and transportation.
Governments have to focus on agriculture and come up with policies which are supportive of rural development. Agriculture also creates lots of jobs and we should be able to help the farmers increase their production, said Annan, who heads the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
For the short and medium term, the problems are going to be with us and governments must be prepared and organize themselves to help because it is going to put greater pressure on the poor.
We are also using food crops for biofuels. Given the demand for seeds, the demand for biofuel, there is such pressure on food prices and the cost of grains has gone up so much and we are seeing food strikes in many countries.
The former UN chief urged developed countries should help the World Food Program with more cash so they can provide emergency relief to those countries worst-hit.
The World Food Program has been making persistent appeals and I know many governments are thinking the whole program of biofuels, he told reporters in Nairobi.
We as Africans have to focus on agriculture to improve productivity and assure food security for ourselves, but for the short term, we are going to have serious problems to handle, he added.
Annan said his organization will continue funding research in seeds to avoid future foods shortages. -AFP
