Everyone Must Enjoy Trade's Benefits, Says FAO

February 12, 2002

Globalization and liberalization of trade for agricultural products, movement of capital and transfer of technology must enhance the living conditions of people in both the developed and the developing countries, warned UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General Jacques Diouf. Speaking to African Agriculture Ministers gathered at the 22nd FAO Regional Conference for Africa, Dr. Diouf said: "For agriculture in particular, it is essential that the new negotiations under the World Trade Organization (WTO) should provide the developing countries with greater opportunities to participate in international trade. "

Underscoring the need to hold the "World Food Summit: five years later," scheduled for June 10-13 in Rome, Dr. Diouf said, "The world still has some 815 million people suffering from chronic malnutrition including 777 million in the developing countries, 27 million in the countries in transition and 11 million in the industrialized countries. The improvement recorded in some countries as parts of the developing world, notably in East Asia, is thus neutralized by the worsening situation in other regions, especially sub-Saharan Africa and Central America and the Caribbean."

The FAO director-general told the Regional Conference for Africa that this is "the only region in the developing world where per capita food supply has fallen for the last four years, exposing vast sectors of the population to food insecurity and malnutrition." He said, "Africa has some 200 million people affected by malnutrition. This is largely due to the limited possibilities of food production for domestic consumption and to poor organization of distribution networks and markets."

He called the participation of the African heads of state and government at the upcoming World Food Summit, "essential for its success. I am confident that they will attend in force as they did in 1996."