U.N. To Provide $200 Million To Poor Farmer For Facing Food Crisis

April 26, 2008 7:47 a.m. EST

Rome, Italy (AHN) - The United Nations rural development arm announced on Friday that it will provide $200 million for poor farmers during the upcoming cropping season to face food crisis.

The U.N. agency took the move aiming to alleviate the suffering of hundreds of millions of people facing hunger and malnutrition due to soaring food prices.

"The capacity of the world's 450 million small-holder farmers to respond by growing more food is at risk because of spiraling energy and fertilizer prices," said Lennart B?ge, President of the U.N. International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) while speaking after a meeting of the agency's Executive Board in Rome, according to a U.N. press statement.

He called for concerted comprehensive and coordinated action to be taken by the international community to prevent the slide of millions into abject poverty. "Poor farmers are not reaping the benefits of higher food prices because they cannot afford the fertilizer or seeds to plant next season's crops."

He also called for a three-pronged strategy: providing emergency food aid to feed the hungry today; supporting, in the short term, small-holder farmers in their bid to plan next season's crops; and longer-term investment in agriculture to ensure food security, nutrition and rural development.

On Thursday, the head of the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) said that surging food prices are thwarting the agency's ability to feed the world's hungry.