On Tuesday June 3, world leaders gathered in Rome, Italy, for an emergency summit to discuss soaring food prices. The summit was hosted by the United Nation Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Price controls, trade tariffs, export bans, subsidies for biofuels and helping farmers in poorer countries took centre stage during the discussions. Participants pledged for food aid to the worst effected countries. The summit comes as food price rises cause political unrest in over 30 countries. The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon has already warned the world to brace itself for further increases in food prices - and the rise in the cost of essential household commodities that goes with it. Ki-moon urged nations to seize an “historic opportunity to revitalise agriculture” as a way of tackling the food crisis. He said many people have to tighten their belts since an upsurge in food prices is likely to persist. The host of the conference, FAO took time off to warn industrialised countries, saying that unless they increase yields, eliminate export barriers or move food to where it is needed most, a global catastrophe could result in near future. Many reasons are being fronted to explain the persistent rise in food prices. Biofuel is repeatedly mentioned as being behind global food price hikes. Biofuel uses the energy contained in organic matter. Campaigners against food prices say the heavily subsidised biofuel industry in developing and developed economies is fundamentally impacting negatively on food supply. Countries like China and India have an increased food demand that affects the international prices especially for cereals, which are highly in demand. Furthermore, their change in the eating habits has effected biogas production. The change to meat diets reduces animals which produce organic materials for biogas production. But the US, Brazil and the EU - the main players on the biofuel stage - maintain that soaring energy costs should shoulder a much larger portion of blame. In Africa, many people have begun to feel the pinch too. Household budgets are being stretched to breaking point. The trend has sparked demonstrations in some countries. Here in Rwanda food prices have remained constant as the Ministry of Agriculture steps up campaign to increase food supply. Information from ministry indicates that programmes are underway to keep escalating food prices at bay. Early this year, State Minister for Agriculture, Dr Agnes Karibata told Sunday Times in an interview that government was stepping up efforts to move production to another level with quality and high output at centre-stage. In the 2008 Budget, government considered agriculture among the four critical sectors along with communication and infrastructure, education and health. Increasing agricultural output was allocated about Frw26 billion compared to Frw10 billion in previous years. Making fertilisers available and selected high quality seeds for agriculture as well as improved breeds of livestock was given Frw3.7 billion ($6.5m). The war on crops and livestock diseases was allocated Frw1.7 billion. Rainwater tapping infrastructure for agricultural purposes was given Frw1.5 billion. Hillside irrigation was earmarked some Frw1.6 billion and terracing was given Frw2.1 billion - showing the importance government attaches to increased production. Such efforts aimed at addressing food crisis are indeed commendable and the region should take a leaf from Rwanda because a failure to address this pertinent issue can spill over to the rest of us. Ends
