EU pumps more money to support agri production through FAO

The EU has added EUR13.2 million (US$16.1 million) to boost agricultural production in developing countries worst hit by high food prices, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

 

It brings the total amount of the EU's "Food Facility" funds channelled through the FAO to an unprecedented EUR228 million euros (US$278 million), the Rome-based UN agency said.

 

Expressing gratitude to the EU fund, Jose Maria Sumpsi, FAO's assistant director-general of the Technical Cooperation Department, noted that food prices remained stubbornly high in developing countries despite a decline from the peaks. The high prices negatively affected vulnerable populations' access to food.

 

In 2009, the EU joined the FAO in its efforts to turn the tide of growing hunger with massive support for global food security through its "Food Facility" funds.

 

Ahead of the G8 and G20 summits later this month during which agricultural subsidies will be discussed, Sumpsi called for urgent investment in small farmers in poor countries. "It is unacceptable that one out of six persons on this planet is undernourished," said Sumpsi.

 

Besides agriculture programmes in Bangladesh and Niger, the EU fund will also go to the FAO's Global Rinderpest Eradication Program to help kill off rinderpest, the devastating animal disease which is responsible for famines for hundreds of years in Asia, Africa and Europe.

 

The FAO said it is confident that field operations can come to a close by October 2010 and the disease can be officially declared eradicated in mid-2011.