Food Security to Increase in 2012
13 June 2012 Bumper crops and favorable harvests are increasing the possibility that the number of hungry people will decrease in 2012, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization Director-General José Graziano da Silva.
FAO’s governing council opened session on Monday, June 11 and began to discuss current economic trends in agriculture.
Still, Graziano da Silva warned that the food security situation in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa was still in a critical state. He thanked countries that placed Africa and food security among their top priorities and called on developing countries to step up their cooperation as well.
Graziano da Silva also warned that the gains in Somalia are still fragile and that a sustained effort was needed to prevent a repetition of such a tragedy.
In May, global food prices fell rapidly as favorable supplies, growing global economic uncertainties and a strengthening of the US dollar created an environment for favorable trade of food, FAO said.
The FAO Food Price Index, which measures the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities, fell by four percent in May. It averaged 204 points and was 9 points down from April. This was the lowest level since September 2011 and about 14 percent below its peak in February 2011.
“Crop prices have come down sharply from their peak level but they remain still high and vulnerable due to risks related to weather conditions in the critical growing months ahead,” FAO grain analyst Abdolreza Abbassian said in a statement.
Since taking office in January, Graziano da Silva has made suggestions to improve FAO’s global presence.
Measures include restructuring parts of the Organization and transferring many headquarters services and staff to FAO country offices to be closer to the problems of underdevelopment and hunger.
The FAO Council, which meets all this week, is composed of representatives of FAO member countries. Elected by the FAO Conference, the Organization’s top governing body, Council members meet every six months to carry out executive oversight of program and budgetary activities.
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