World facing food crisis, experts warn

08:19 • 20.08.12



With drought parching farms in the US and near the Black Sea, weak monsoon rains in India and insidious hunger in Africa's Sahel region, the world could be headed toward another food crisis, AFP reported, citing experts.


Asia should keep a catastrophe at bay with a strong rice harvest while the G20 group of industrialized and emerging economies tries to parry the main threat, soaring food prices.


"We have had quite a few climate events this year that will lead to very poor harvests, notably in the US with corn or in Russia with soja," warned Philippe Pinta of the French farmers federation FNSEA.


"That will create price pressures similar to what we saw in 2007-2008," he added in reference to the last global food alert, when wheat and rice prices nearly doubled.


In India, "all eyes will be on food inflation - whether the impact of a weak monsoon feeds into food prices," Samiran Chakraborty, regional head of research at Standard Chartered Bank, was quoted by Dow Jones Newswires as saying.


Monsoon rains were 15.2 percent below average in mid-August, according to data from India's weather bureau, and Asian rice prices are forecast to rise by as much as 10 percent in the coming months as supplies tighten.


Indian Food Minister Kuruppasserry Varkey Thomas told parliament this month that prevailing conditions "could affect the crop prospects and may have an impact on prices of essential commodities."


Despite that warning however, the UN Food and Agricultural Organization expects rice output to slightly surpass "excellent results" recorded last year, though the FAO cut its global forecast for production of unmilled rice to about 725 million tons from its previous figure of 732 million.


The US farm belt has been ravaged by the most stifling drought since the 1950s, and the country has also just sweltered through the hottest July on record.


Corn production is probably at the lowest level in six years, the US Department of Agriculture said, and curtailed production will likely send corn and soybean prices to record highs, it added.


"Cereal prices have shot up, with an increase in (corn) prices of almost 40 percent since June 1," strategists at the CM-CIC brokerage noted.
 

Armenian News - Tert.am





LATEST NEWSAll Today news

13:04 • 20/06

Armenia’s status improves in 2013 Trafficking in Persons report

12:56 • 20/06

Armenian expert comments on Gazprom’s steps

12:05 • 20/06

Company-tricked citizens hold protest in Armenia’s capital

11:23 • 20/06

Armenian wrestlers success at European wrestling championship

10:51 • 20/06

Actor James Gandolfini Dead at 51

09:55 • 20/06

168: Karabakh war veterans dissatisfied with law on Yerkrapah

09:35 • 20/06

Aravot: MP Samvel Alexanyan monopolizes pig-breeding

09:09 • 20/06

Haykakan Zhamanak: Ararat governor goes on holiday as inspections on

08:39 • 20/06

Hraparak: Gold grandchild’s birthday not officially market yet

08:38 • 20/06

Zhoghovurd: Armenia’s ex-president visits Nagorno-Karabakh

22:42 • 19/06

International Association of Genocide Scholars opens 10th Biennial Conference in Siena, Italy

22:15 • 19/06

Opposition Armenian MP speaks of premier’s ‘revelation’

21:24 • 19/06

Armenia’s prosecutor general receives Iranian ambassador

19:51 • 19/06

Prosperous Armenia rep speaks of Control Chamber’s report, kickbacks, party’s plans

19:48 • 19/06

Nagorno-Karabakh president visits south-east regions

19:31 • 19/06

Armenian premier receives FNU members

18:46 • 19/06

Armenian environmentalist concerned over fish species

17:37 • 19/06

No transaction with Armenian government’s 20% share to Gazprom effected

17:20 • 19/06

Facebook has 1 m advertisers who’ll have to wait for video ads

17:10 • 19/06

Armenian composer Aram Khachatryan’s music in UNESCO special register

16:50 • 19/06

European Investment Bank may grant €5m loan for renovation of Yerevan Underground

16:43 • 19/06

Henrikh Mkhitaryan leaving for London

16:30 • 19/06

Rare Superman comic book auctioned for $175,000

16:25 • 19/06

Armenian FM to attend BSEC meeting in Ukraine

16:11 • 19/06

World’s biggest TV goes on sale in Europe

16:01 • 19/06

Yerkrapah union law signal to Azerbaijan – Armenian MP

15:50 • 19/06

Farmers must not lose hope – businessman

15:20 • 19/06

Chief of Armenia’s police withholds comments on Goris incident

15:12 • 19/06

Armenia’s Doctor of Year to be named on Jun. 21

14:53 • 19/06

9-year-old Armenian child needs help for treatment abroad

14:39 • 19/06

Over 100 reported killed in North India flood

14:31 • 19/06

Belgium may legalize child Euthanasia

14:20 • 19/06

Economy Ministry denies report on holding costly working dinner

13:53 • 19/06

Nagorno-Karabakh MP hails co-chairing states’ interest in conflict settlement

13:36 • 19/06

Karabakh conflict poses regional threat – Azeri MP



ArmeniaRegionPress digestWorldBusinessEventScience/techCultureSportsLifestyle