Recent spikes in staple food prices resulting from the invasion of Ukraine have once again highlighted the difficulty faced by low-income countries that rely on imports for a substantial portion of their
Missouri is considering rolling back a mandate supporting ethanol production amid growing outrage over rising prices for food and livestock feed. Less than four months ago, ethanol supporters were celebrating implementation of a Missouri law requiring gasoline sold throughout the state contain 10 percent ethanol. The law, passed in 2006, took effect Jan. 1. But now, in the face of growing criticism of the nation's ethanol-friendly policies, Missouri may be among the first to back away from ethanol supports.
Following soaring fuel prices in the international market, the Guinean government has suspended its long-used subsidies on diesel and petrol. The government had used the subsidies to quell tensions
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon began talks yesterday with key development agencies on how to tackle the crisis provoked by soaring food and fuel prices. "This is an exciting time for the United Nations, but it is also a time when we are challenged to exert our best efforts to rise to the expectations that the world is placing on us," Ban said ahead of meetings in the Swiss capital. The UN was to hammer out a battle plan of emergency measures at the two-day conference in Berne, while exploring other longer-term measures to solve the global food crisis.
Now the question arises who is getting benefited by these measures and who is getting hit? We all know that about two third of our population is dependent on agriculture for its sustenance.
The worldwide shortage of food grains, coupled with high food prices, is driving leading food companies and investors from the UAE to Pakistan in search of lucrative deals in the agriculture sector in of one of the world's major food exporters. With the entire world passing through an era of record high food prices and acute food shortage predicted in the near future, leading Gulf investors are planning joint ventures and direct investment in Pakistan's farm and livestock sectors, a private TV channel reported.
The inflationary pressure, which has been a constant cause of worry for the government, is expected to attract restrictions on agricultural exports, Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) said in its monthly review. The high international prices and the consequent increase in exports has caused inflation to surge (hovering over 7%) CMIE said, adding that this prompted the government to clamp down on exports of some agricultural commodities in order the improve availability and cool down prices.
While we have been there before, things are worrying. With little that the government can do OMKAR GOSWAMI Global agricultural and food inflation has become a hot topic since I wrote about four weeks ago. Every magazine and newspaper worth the name are writing on it on a daily basis
Senior BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu hinted on Saturday that if the NDA was voted to power in the next general election, it would seriously consider amending the Constitution to include the "right to food" as a fundamental right of every citizen. The occasion was the launch of the state government's "Mukhya Mantri Annapurna Yojana" under which families holding BPL ration cards would be given wheat and rice at Rs 3 and Rs 4.50 per kg, respectively.
The US Midwest has enjoyed nearly 20 years without a major drought but forecasters worry the corn belt's luck could dry up this year, further squeezing tight global supplies amid soaring food prices. With its last major drought in 1988, the Midwest has reached its average span of 18.6 years between droughts. Considering that statistic and current weather conditions, Iowa State University extension climatologist Elwynn Taylor said the corn belt has a one in three chance of drought this year. "We do have to be prepared," Taylor said. "A 33 percent chance is high, that's a risk."
A food security system based on indigenous produce can alone combat the rising prices in India, reports Vibha Sharma TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu weighs vegetables with a balance during a dharna against price rise jointly organised by the TDP, CPI, CP(M) and SP. TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu weighs vegetables with a balance during a dharna against price rise jointly organised by the TDP, CPI, CP(M) and SP.
