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Governments Must Fight Hunger

Written by Cian MacSweeny
Saturday, 07 June 2008
Brendan Smith TD, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, recently appealed to governments to re-evaluate their priorities and fulfill the commitments they have made to take on hunger. In an address at the World Food Summit in Rome, Minister Smith spoke to Heads of States, Prime Ministers and Agriculture Ministers from across the globe in a meeting at the summit to agree the actions required to respond to the current crisis on world food markets and the threat of climate change. Mr. Smith said that “Rising food prices have had a dramatic effect on food security”. He mentioned that this is most notable in the developing world, where people who are already suffering from malnourishment, and for whom food costs take up 60% - 80% of their income, are facing a heavy burden. Minister Smith said that over half the population of the world lives in low-income, food-deficit countries that cannot produce or import enough food to feed their people. The current situation would lead to a failure in achieving the Millennium Development Goals on poverty and hunger. The highest prices in nearly 50 years for all major food commodities were reached during 2008. Low-Income Food-Deficit Countries (LIFDCs) paid 24% more on food imports in 2007 than in 2006. This was a rise to $107 billion. Minister Smith made note that Ireland will reach the development assistance (ODA) target of 0.7% of gross national income by 2012. The Minister added, “that a central part of the international response has to be support for sustainable agricultural production in Africa, and other food deficit regions”. Minister Smith stated that agricultural production and nutrition must become a major part in development aid programmes so that even with the rising food prices, farmers may generate some income. “We must give them the help they need to do so. Partner governments must in turn ensure that they pursue supportive agricultural policies which promote sustainable pro-poor growth.” The Minister also made note of climate change and its affect on food security. He said “we need to produce food sustainably to meet growing population needs. However, climate change threatens our ability to do that by affecting production and ecosystems.” In order to ensure sustainability, environmental issues must be integrated into agriculture systems and the multifunctional role of agriculture should be recognised and rewarded. Minister Brendan Smith also drew attention to the Doha Development Round of World Trade negotiations that are taking place at the moment. The Minister stated that food security must become an integral part of national and international policy. “We must do this in a coherent way, extending not only to our national agricultural policies and aid programmes but also to international trade agreements. We should give ourselves the time and space to consider the potential interactions between the Doha Development Round and the current world food market situation”.

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