Food security as a matter of global concern

Continuing drought in Russia and in other countries of the CIS, in Europe and Asia poses a serious threat to global food security. Grain prices have increased almost by 20% over the past two weeks. And experts predict grain prices` rise through the season.

Scientists say droughts have become much more frequent in diffident parts of the world. This is a tendency caused by human effect on climate and its natural alterations. According to a recent UN report, in forty years the planet’s population will grow to 9 billion. Global economy faces a very challenging task to guarantee a worthy life to all the people. The UN experts say by the year 2050, two thirds of the population will live in cities, while agricultural territories will shrunk.        

That is why hunger and poverty were among the key issues on the agenda of the G8 summit in Canada last month. The summit resulted in the Muskoka Declaration which emphasizes a need to boost agricultural productivity. But yet it appears to be a too difficult task amid the ongoing natural cataclysms and economic crisis. Each country hit by a drought is looking for its own measures to save crops and get compensated for losses.

Many are forced to tap their grain reserves, use drought-resisting crops and build new irrigation facilities. Russia, the world’s second gain exporter, is taking emergency measures to cushion the impact of the dry spell.   

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has pledged financial support to drought-stricken regions and other compensation measures for agricultural producers. Arkady Zlochevsky, President of the Russian Grain Union, said that despite downgraded harvest forecasts, panic over a potential lack of food or a considerable loss of Russia’s export potential, is absolutely groundless:

"Rumors and fears that a grain deficit is looming and that we won’t be able to feed ourselves have absolutely no ground."   

A state of emergency has been introduced in 16 Russian regions. The Agriculture Ministry has said the heat affected 9 million hectares of crop areas. To keep grain prices stable, the government is planning to use the Grain Intervention Fund that currently holds 9.5 million of tons, one-third of it being forage grain – more than enough not only to provide for the country’s domestic needs and but also to export some grain.