The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) on January 7 expressed cautious optimism at successes in the fight against poverty and hunger this year.
Although the number of people suffering from hunger in the world has surpassed 1.2 billion for the first time, the food prices have kept going up in developing countries and the rising sea water is likely to cause floods in many farming areas, there are still foundations to be optimistic in 2010 given experiences in the fight against poverty and hunger last year, said FAO and WFP.
In addition, secured global food reserves and bright prospects of bumper crops in the world have reduced risks of food price increase at least in the coming six months.
The UN agencies affirmed there would be no recurrence of the 2007-2008 food crisis in the near future and developing countries could ensure food security, even in tough times. FAO named 31 developing countries including Vietnam , Brazil , Nigeria and Armenia which boast the reduced number of poor people over the past years.
The agencies stressed that there was not a solution for all countries. However, to be successful in the fight, countries should carry out two strategies simultaneously – investing in agriculture to raise output and building welfare systems for needy people, they said./.
Although the number of people suffering from hunger in the world has surpassed 1.2 billion for the first time, the food prices have kept going up in developing countries and the rising sea water is likely to cause floods in many farming areas, there are still foundations to be optimistic in 2010 given experiences in the fight against poverty and hunger last year, said FAO and WFP.
In addition, secured global food reserves and bright prospects of bumper crops in the world have reduced risks of food price increase at least in the coming six months.
The UN agencies affirmed there would be no recurrence of the 2007-2008 food crisis in the near future and developing countries could ensure food security, even in tough times. FAO named 31 developing countries including Vietnam , Brazil , Nigeria and Armenia which boast the reduced number of poor people over the past years.
The agencies stressed that there was not a solution for all countries. However, to be successful in the fight, countries should carry out two strategies simultaneously – investing in agriculture to raise output and building welfare systems for needy people, they said./.
