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Guyana escapes global hungerCountries worldwide will tomorrow observe World Food Day, under the theme ‘Food Prices- from Crisis to Stability’. The theme is appropriate since food prices which were stable for decades, have become increasingly volatile.There remains the need for greater policy coordination in the international food trade to reduce volatility by helping maintain an assured flow of goods. In addition, trade-distorting agricultural subsidies in rich countries must also be eliminated.This is according to Dr. Lystra Fletcher-Paul, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Country Representative, who was at the time delivering remarks at the FAO and Ministry of Education’s Home Economics Classes Competition.The aim of the competition was to promote increased agro-production and nutrition. The event saw the participation of 15 secondary schools from Regions Two, Three, Four, Six, Ten, and Georgetown. It was held yesterday at the St. Joseph’s High School, Woolford Avenue.Dr. Fletcher-Paul asserted that the competition is an example of creativity that is needed to cope with fluctuating food prices. It took into consideration the use of local foods, their nutritional content and income.“For the poor producer, who spends as much as 75 percent of his income on food, an increase in food prices means that he may have to skip a meal each day, thereby leading to mal or under nutrition, poor performance in school and all its attendant social problems,” Dr. Fletcher-Paul stated.Like the consumers who depend on their income, small farmers look at market prices to determine their level of production. Before investing in certain crops,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, small farmers need to know the prices they will fetch at harvest time months in advance. If prices are likely to be high,China Jerseys Authentic, they will plant more but if there are indications that the prices will be low the opposite will occur.For poor countries which are net food importers, price rise can hurt by making it more expensive for them to import food for their people. The global food market is tight as supply is struggling to keep pace with demand for food,Cheap Jerseys Authentic, and food stocks are low,Cheap NFL Jerseys, she noted.Meanwhile,Cheap Jerseys From China, increased wealth, particularly in emerging economies mean that many people worldwide are consuming more meat and diary products, thereby,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, driving up the price of animal feed.Dr. Fletcher-Paul emphasised that if the issue of world hunger is to be addressed, the problem of food price fluctuations, particularly for those that spend most of their incomes on food, must be resolved.She said that at the national and regional levels,Cheap Authentic Jerseys, Governments may need to provide safety nets for the poor and vulnerable groups, and possibly emergency food reserves, to help assure food supplies to the needy during crises.Moreover, the investment in agriculture needs to be greater to strengthen research and development, improve infrastructure, communications, markets and education. She added that poor consumers can also be assisted with cash or food vouchers and farmers helped with inputs such as fertilizers and seeds.According to the Minister of Education, Shaik Baksh, Government has been investing largely in agriculture in areas of research, diversification of crops, and drainage and irrigation. These investments and the efforts of farmers have allowed Guyana to be ahead of other CARICOM countries in food production.To provide students with food, the Education Ministry embarked on the school feeding programme which cost $1.5B per year. There are three categories: the low cost meal for Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine; Biscuit and Juice for coastal communities; and cassava bread with peanut butter and juice.Minister Baksh noted that there are 800 million persons worldwide that are under nourished while one billion persons worldwide are overweight.While in Guyana, Minister Baksh stated that he is unaware of any child succumbing as a result of hunger, six million children die of hunger worldwide. |
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