united nations • Qatar has urged world leaders to cooperate and tackle the global rise in food prices, while affirming solidarity with the developing countries worst hit by the crisis.
Tariq Ali Faraj Al Ansari, a First Secretary at Doha's UN mission, told the General Assembly that skyrocketing food prices have reached "emergency proportions" that only "radical solutions" will overcome.
The Qatari diplomat spoke during a two-day debate at the UN headquarters in New York that assessed whether slashing subsidies and lifting trade barriers would stimulate food production and help Africa's one million smallholder farmers.
"The time of easy access to food is long gone — the world is today witnessing unprecedented increases in food prices in global markets," Al Ansari told the 192-member body on Monday. "Current market analysis indicates that the trend will continue in the future. Undoubtedly this rise in food commodity prices will have detrimental affects on those living in dire poverty around the world.”
"In our view the crisis has multiple causes: The shortage of agricultural commodities on world markets, bad weather conditions, rising fuel prices, the considerable expansion in bio-fuel production and the newly imposed restrictions on international trade," Al Ansari told delegates.
"The state of Qatar, which continues to contribute to global development efforts, shall spare no effort to remain an affective actor in the global partnerships to find radical solutions to the global food crisis in the world," he said.
Dr Kayan Jaff, the FAO's regional chief, has warned that only a multi-billion dollar investment in agriculture will curb soaring supermarket prices — urging governments to buy up farmland in regions like the Horn of Africa and Asia.
"The GCC needs to invest several billion dollars in this initiative — that is our immediate target," said Dr Jaff. "They need to invest several billion in agriculture in neighbouring countries. It is important; it is fundamental and it is very timely."
Dr Jaff said Qatar and other Gulf governments must dig deeper into their pockets if they want to effectively tackle the soaring supermarket prices being endured by their
populations.
The FAO has had a small national representation in Abu Dhabi since May 2005, but the office will expand to 50 technical advisors and support workers over the next four months.
