Editorial
Commitment to eradicate hunger still fragile
Rome conference yields inadequate outcome
The world summit on food security held in Rome in the prelude to the high-profile Copenhagen global climate conference has proved to be long on expression of concerns but short on commitments. That is how generally the outcome has been described by the rather discerning western media.
The commitments to eradication of hunger with which at least one billion people in the world currently go to bed, apart from many more agonising through undernourishment and malnutrition, have fallen short of not only expectations but also requirements.
The one-world vision of food security for the coming decades that the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon spoke of, is still sadly missing. This seems to have been predisposed by the fact that none of the leaders of the developed world, G-8, to be precise, managed to participate in this vitally important food summit.
Although the countries pledged to substantially increased aid to agriculture in developing countries, the commitment lacks in specifics. It falls short of the US dollar 44 billion a year as agricultural aid that the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) reckons will be necessary in the coming decades to match projected population growth. It is estimated that by 2050 world population will reach such a figure that it would entail massive investments to increase global food production by 70 percent from the current level.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made a strong plea for a fair and equitable food governance system, so as to reach food to the marginalised and vulnerable across the world. The declaration adopted at the summit emphasised on coordination at national, regional and global levels to provide improved food security.
Bangladesh prime minister quite naturally brought in the climate change dimension saying that Bangladesh stands out as an example of how agricultural production has become hostage to frequent and erratic natural disasters adversely affecting food output in the country. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon also pointed out that climate change and food security issues are intertwined. The message is clear and it needs to be heeded.
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