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President warns of food crisis
30/04/2008 09:14 - (SA)
Malema - Mozambique's president said on Tuesday the country would be hard hit by global food price rises if it does not boost agricultural output.
"Mozambique will not be spared by the food crisis, food
prices are on the hike as well as fuel prices, we must start
producing food now," said Armando Guebuza, on a tour of poor
areas of the southern African country.
"This crisis will hit us hard and we should be not caught
off guard."
The United Nations has warned that millions of people are
threatened by hunger around the world because of the recent
surge in food prices, which has sparked food riots in several
African countries, Indonesia and Haiti.
Increased food demand from rapidly developing nations such
as China, the use of crops for biofuels, global stocks at
25-year lows and market speculation are all blamed for pushing
prices of staples like wheat, maize and rice to record highs.
Mozambique will need to import at least 1.25 million tons
of maize, wheat and rice by August to cover food shortages
caused by floods since February, government officials say.
At least 150 000 people in the country were in urgent need
of food aid after severe floods in the centre of the country.
Mozambique has already faced unrest over living costs.
At least six people were killed in protests that erupted in
February over high fuel prices and other costs. The government
agreed to cut the price of diesel fuel for minibus taxis.
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