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The All Party Parliamentary Group on Agriculture and Food for Development Overseas Media Monitor 11th – 18th November 2009 Ethiopian premier urges boosting of trade ties with Saudi Arabia Suspected Sudanese pastoralists kill three Kenyans Congolese refugees in northeast Burundi stage sit-in to protest rights abuses Six people killed following tribal clashes in Sudan's Darfur state Kenyan radio listeners call for unity in assisting those evicted from Mau Forest Ugandan president orders eviction of forest squatters Ethiopian premier in talks with visiting British minister UK earmarks 320m US dollar to support Ethiopia MPs from Kenya's rift valley rap premier over forest evictions th Kenyan minister faults media, aid groups over forest evictions 16 November Al-Shabab's threat to WFP linked to US probe on businessmen Increasing hunger could fuel conflict in Southern Sudan Zambia: Banda arrives in Italy to attend world summit on food security Yemen says fishing boats seized by Eritrean pirates East African states urged to harmonize laws, policies on food production Kenyan MPs demand land for evicted Mau Forest settlers Japan grants 860,000 dollars for water projects in Yemen Woman eats her new born baby due to hunger in southern Sudanese state Kenya's Mau Forest settlers said trooping out Beijing hikes non-residential water prices Nigeria working on space technology to enhance development South Korea: 30,000 farmers protest at plummeting rice prices Arab League chief says "Israel usurps most fertile Palestinian lands" France, Brazil call for two-year world food security "road map" St Lucia agriculture minister upbeat about banana industry despite EU tariffs Clerk: James Birch Room 311 Star Chamber Court, Houses of Parliament, Westminster, SW1A 0AA. Tel: 020 7219 5472 Fax: 020 7219 1770 Email: email@example.com China proposes four-point action plan to eradicate world hunger South African vice president to join world leaders in Rome to find ways to tackle food crisis Cuba works to improve soil quality; halt land deterioration – official Hamas official warns World Food summit of Gaza crisis Russia's food donation to North Korea completed Nigeria: Regional body launches 900m-dollar food security scheme South Korea to increase agriculture aid to developing countries Russia planning large-scale grain exports to Japan Japan: Minister dispels public concerns over blue-fin tuna catch quota cut Seychelles' leader calls for more investment to avert climate change President Mugabe hails FAO's 70m-dollar facility to Zimbabwe Afghan minister welcomes start of fruit exports to India Philippines to import 1.4m tons of rice in 2010 Egyptian president proposes global programme on food crisis Libyan leader proposes solutions to food problems at Rome summit The wife of the Iranian president addresses the NAM first ladies meeting Bangladesh sets 2013 food security goal – minister South Korea seeks cheap land overseas to grow food North Korean agency optimistic on effort to solve food problem Grenada government seeks agriculture assistance from Egypt SAfrica 2009 farm attacks reportedly claimed more lives than war in Afghanistan Chinese helping Brunei trial rice strains for self-sufficiency South Korea records bumper rice crop in 2009 2 Ethiopian premier urges boosting of trade ties with Saudi Arabia th Text of report in English by state-owned Ethiopian news agency ENA website – 15 November 2009 Addis Ababa, 15 November: The Saudi [Arabia]-East African Forum was opened here on Sunday [15 November] at the UN Conference Centre in the presence of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and leaders of east African countries. Djibouti President Ismael Omar Guelleh, Rwandan Prime Minister Bernard Makuza and Kenya Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta are also attending the forum. Speaking on the occasion, Meles said east African countries and Saudi Arabia have long-standing and historical relationships. Meles further said the long-standing relations between the two sides need to be further consolidated by investment and trade ties. Speaking about Ethiopia, Meles said Ethiopia is endowed with suitable climate for agriculture and has good investment policy. Pointing out that the availability of market in the country, Meles called on Saudi investors to invest in Ethiopia. He also assured the Saudi investors that his government would extend the necessary support to them. Djibouti President Ismael Oumar Guelleh said, on his part, that his country would do everything possible to strengthen the relations between east Africa and Saudi Arabia. He also pointed out that members of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) have 400 million population which he said is a market opportunity for Saudi Arabi. Saudi Arabian Finance Minister Dr Ibrahim [Bin-Abd-al-Aziz] al-Assaf said his country is committed to combating hunger, to provide support for east Africa but also generate exports. "We are here not to impose our needs above the needs of local population. We are here to work together to support one another and find rescannable [as published] and accommodating solutions for both," he added. Somali Federal Transitional Government President Shaykh Sharif [Shaykh] Ahmad said on the occasion that the forum would lay a foundation for strengthening ties between east African countries and S audi Arabia. Suspected Sudanese pastoralists kill three Kenyans Text of report by state-owned KBC (Kenya Broadcasting Corporation) Radio on 12 November Tension is building up along the Kenya-Sudan border after armed suspected Toposa militia shot dead three women at Kimario water point in Kibish Division of Turkana North District 420km northeast of Lodwar town. Confirming the incident that had left residents shocked, Lokitaung OCPD [Officer Commanding Police Division] Ndung'u wa Ikonye said that three other women were seriously injured during the incident which occurred while they were fetching water. The OCPD said the gunmen who had sneaked 30km inside Kenyan territory intended to steal livestock, attacked the women in frustration after their mission failed. He said no animals were stolen in the midday attack but the assailants are reported to have fled out of the country through the porous borders. Ikonye said the wounded women are hospitalized at the Lodwar District Hospital. He revealed that a team of GSU [General Service Unit] personnel has been dispatched to the border to patrol and to pursue the gunmen and also quell tension on the insecurity prone volatile border. Congolese refugees in northeast Burundi stage sit-in to protest rights abuses Text of report by Burundi news agency ABP Muyinga, 18 November: Congolese refugees at the Gasorwe Camp today organized a sit-in in front of the administration block of Gasorwe Commune in Muyinga Province (northeastern Burundi), various sources report. The refugees are demanding for their rights to be respected, the protesters' spokesman, Kasongo Mwema, said. According to him, a good number of refugees are not receiving their food rations and UNHCR officers are said to be behind this injustice. It is worthwhile to note that the Gasorwe Camp was established in 2004 and hosts more than 8,000 Congolese refugees who fled their country due to the war that raged in eastern DRCongo. The refugees are under the protection of the UNHCR and the Burundi government. Six people killed following tribal clashes in Sudan's Darfur state Excerpt from report by liberal Sudanese newspaper Al-Sahafah on 18 November Six people were killed following renewed fighting between Rizayqat and Habaniyah tribes in Biram locality of southern Darfur in the beginning if this week. Following a meeting between the state governor, Ali Mahmud, and local authority, a heated argument ensued [between the elder the two tribes], leading to Al-Habaniyah tribal chiefs to walk out of the meeting. However, the tribal chiefs later on came back and an agreement was reached. Sources told Al-Sahafah newspaper that the clashes renewed between the two parties after disputes occurred between the farmers and pastrolist in Palestine area near to Bram locality. This happened when the cattle of Al-Rizayqat tribe grazed in Al-Habaniya farms, leading to the killing of one of the Al-Habaniyah tribe by Al-Rizayqat. This was followed by clashes on last Saturday and Sunday in which four people were killed from Al-Habaniyan tribe and another one from Al-Rizayqat tribe. [Passage omitted governor holding meeting with security committee the locality]. 3 Kenyan radio listeners call for unity in assisting those evicted from Mau Forest Kass FM's morning talk show on 18 November once again focused on the Mau evictions. For the third day, the presenter of the show, Arap Tanui, continued to receive donations from listeners. He announced that so far the donations collected (earlier estimated at over 3m shillings) have been used to buy relief supplies such as food, blankets and other basic items which will be delivered today to the evictees. Since last weekend, Kass FM has been asking listeners to send their donations either in cash or basic items to help those who have left the Mau Forest. The presenter also told the listeners during the show that it was not time to focus on politics, but on the plight of the evictees. He said that those talking about party politics were not in the right frame of mind as there are people suffering. The following are a few comments from the listeners. (SMS from Bingwa in Kapsabet) Thank you to all those who have helped the Mau evictees. That is the love among the Kalenjin. (SMS from Ben Rono in Keses) I saw something on television which I was not happy about. (Presenter) As I had said there are many people who can do many things. Let them talk. We cannot shut their mouths. Let them speak as long as you stand on truth and nothing else. (SMS from Julius Korir in Kuresoi) I would like to tell my fellow brothers in Tinet to persevere. What else can we do? (SMS from Koko in Bartolimo) I thank God for the hearts of those who have mercy to help the children, men and women of Mau. I am praying morning and night. Let us call on the God of truth. (SMS from Maiyo) The Kalenjin elders should call for a meeting about the Mau. (Presenter) Let us not go ahead of ourselves. They said that there is alternative settlement so let us wait for the government. (SMS) Is it true that those who acquired land from politicians are now losing their land to the politicians? Let us continue helping them until the government steps in. (Caller Johnston Koech) I would like to thank Kass FM for thinking about the people in the Mau. God knows why that station exists. I would like to tell those in the Mau that God is with them and that we are with them. (Caller Councillor Chemoina) I am grateful for what the Kalenjin are doing. Other people can see our unity. Leaders should not incite people and they should be careful about what they say. If someone says that they (evictees) have a place to go to, what do they mean? Some were born there. If he says everyone should go where they come from then that is bad. (Presenter) Some people do not know that when they are saying it. (Councillor Chemoina) It is true they do not know when they are saying it. An assistant minister also said something I did not like. We are not invited guests in the ODM (Orange Democratic Movement). ODM is a party we supported, in which Mr Ruto vied for a seat. The party does not belong to one side. But we hear some saying they should leave the party. Don't we have democracy? The Kalenjin should make a decision on where they are heading. If any of us have assets, even land, we should help to take care of our people. Ugandan president orders eviction of forest squatters Text of report by Madinah Tebajjukira entitled "Museveni orders eviction of encroachers" published by state -owned, mass- circulation Ugandan daily The New Vision website on 18 November President Yoweri Museveni has directed Water and Environment Minister Maria Mutagamba to immediately evict encroachers in all forest reserves.Appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory and State Enterprises yesterday, Mutagamba said the president's directive was issued on October 15. "The president has realised the dangers of forest encroachers. He has noticed the destruction, especially around the lake shores, and he wants encroachers evicted before 2011," Mutagamba told the committee. She explained that because of the sensitivity of the matter, her ministry had organized a stakeholders meeting to set out the modalities before going to the ground to evict people. Mutagamba told the committee, chaired by Reagan Okumu, that she had written to the third deputy prime minister, the local government and internal affairs officials, to meet on Thursday next week [26 November] and brainstorm over the matter. The meeting, the minister said, will also discuss how the encroachers would be compensated. The committee, however, opposed the idea of compensating the encroachers, saying it would encourage illegal settlers. According to the president's directive, the evictions should start with Namwasa Forest in Kiboga, Mpanga Forest in Mpigi, Bukaleba in Bugiri and forests in Mubende and Hoima districts. When the committee toured forests recently, it established that the number of encroachers had increased, most especially in western Uganda. Uganda has 506 forest reserves. Over 350,000 illegal settlers are believed to be living in the reserves.Though the directive targets people who settled in the forests before 2005, Mutagamba asserted that even those who settled in forests with unique features like streams, rivers, lakes, would be evicted. Kenyan MPs accuse state of "creating IDPs" in forest eviction Text of report by Karanja Njoroge entitled "Forest eviction stirs Ruto's nest" published by Kenyan privately-owned daily newspaper The Standard website on 18 November; subheading as published 4 The government decision to evict Mau settlers has been replayed into what has become a familiar cycle of political reaction. The commencement of the eviction last week has been met with criticism by Rift Valley leaders who have accused the government of creating a new set of Internally Displaced Persons. Some of the leaders are accusing the government of employing double standards by resettling IDPs and creating a crisis similar to the one resolved when post-election IDPs were resettled. Over the weekend, Rift Valley leaders led by Agriculture Minister William Ruto demanded that the government allocates land to all the settlers being evicted from the forest. The leaders have been calling for funds to be set aside for the resettlement of all evictees, including those without title deeds. The Mau Forest Interim Coordinating Secretariat, however says the more than 1,690 families targeted in the first phase of eviction do not possess any papers and are not eligible for compensation. Environmentalists say the full effect of destruction in the Mau complex is taking its toll on local rivers and streams especially in the South Rift region. A sharp decline on the water levels in the major rivers and streams has been registered due to unchecked human activities in the forest. Planting of eucalyptus trees for domestic and commercial scale along the rivers, streams and swamps has also been cited as a cause of the reduced water levels. Ethiopian premier in talks with visiting British minister th Text of report in English by state-owned Ethiopian news agency ENA website 17 November Addis Ababa, 17 November: Prime Minister Meles Zenawi here on Tuesday [17 November] held talks with UK minister of state for international development, Gareth Thomas MP, [who] said the international media have exaggerated food shortage occurred in Ethiopia. The two parties on the occasion discussed on the ongoing efforts of Ethiopia to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). According to a senior government official, the two parties discussed on the food shortage occurred in Ethiopia. They exchanged views on the discussion the government holds with opposition parties concerning the upcoming national elections. They also discussed on issues related to Africa's common position on climate change at the Copenhagen conference to be held in December 2009. UK supports Africa's common position on climate change, Thomas said, adding, the international community should provide similar support. Thomas on the occasion confirmed that his country will further strengthen support to Ethiopia. He told journalists after the discussion that he visited various parts of the country to observe the situation and witnessed that the food shortage occurred in Ethiopia is not as exaggerated by the international media Thomas said in particular he visited some parts of the Amhara State and witnessed encouraging development activities. The state minister said the discussion between the government and opposition political parties should further be strengthened with a view to making the election fair and democratic. The code of conduct of election will significantly contribute in the efforts to make the election peaceful and credible, he said UK earmarks 320m US dollar to support Ethiopia Text of report in English by state-owned Ethiopian news agency ENA website 17th November Addis Ababa, 17 November: UK minister of state for international development, Gareth Thomas MP, announced a UKaid package of four billion birr [320.9m US dollar] this year of grant aid to support the provision of basic services, social protection and humanitarian assistance in Ethiopia. The state minister said at a press conference here on Tuesday [17 November] that the fund will be used for expansion of health and education services as well as safe water provision and road construction over the next three years. Thomas said together with the government's own resources and other external support over the next three years, the UKaid will contribute in the efforts to enrol additional 2.8 million children in schools, get access to 150,000 extra trained teachers. It will also offer access to 6,000 trained health workers, equip 1280 health centres with emergency obstetric care and enable six million households benefit from safe water service. The state minister also confirmed that the UK government has allocated 71 million pound sterling this year for the Productive Safety Net Program and for the emergency humanitarian responses. MPs from Kenya's rift valley rap premier over forest evictions Text of report by Samuel Kumba, John Ngirachu, and Dennis Odunga entitled: "Mau: Rift between Raila and MPs widens" published by Kenyan privately-owned newspaper Daily Nation website on 17 November The Mau forest [southwestern Kenya] saga has sparked a war of words between ministers barely two days after they resolved to end such feuds at a cabinet bonding session in Mombasa. Two ministers and an assistant minister went personal with the prime minister over an issue already agreed by the cabinet. Ministers William Ruto (agriculture), Franklin Bett (roads) and assistant minister Jebii Kilimo (cooperative development) accused Mr Raila Odinga of seeking international recognition over the Mau at the expense of settlers in the forest. The three, who were joined by more than a dozen MPs from the Rift Valley Province, said the government had agreed that those living the forest were to be resettled. Taking the attack a notch higher, Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto now says the PM [prime minister] did not even win the disputed December 2007 general election, asking him to let President Kibaki run the government. "The PM was appointed the Tanzanian way and should not claim to partly run the government. If he has any proof that he won the election let him share it with us," said Mr Ruto. Asked whether this public attack makes a joke of the bonding session the ministers and their assistants were meant to have at the Coast, the Chepalungu MP said the bonding was not confining. "How do you bond with people who do not keep their word? There was an agreement that the government will not move people and throw them into the cold as has happened. How can they say that everybody should go back to where they came from?" said the 5 MP. Nyanza MPs seemed to have prepared a rejoinder to their Rift Valley counterparts, but cancelled a press conference they had called at Parliament Building. Gwasi MP John Mbadi apologised to journalists who had gathered at the venue, saying they had to cancel it "because it could have been explosive". "After wide consultations, we have decided to cancel this press conference on the Mau issue. I would like to apologise for this," said Mr Mbadi. The Mombasa communique the top government officers, headed by the president and PM, came up with was clear in its goals. The agreement stated that cabinet ministers and their assistants will trust and respect each other, and any differences will be resolved through internal mechanisms. "Cabinet ministers and assistant ministers will foster unity and cohesion within government by refraining from making adverse public utterances against fellow cabinet ministers and assistant ministers, and those which could cast a bad image of the government," said the Mombasa communique. It further states that cabinet ministers and assistant ministers shall abide by the principles of collective responsibility, a resolve that agriculture minister would not abide by. "We have no apologies to make for demanding that these people be treated as human beings. To suggest that we should remain silent rather than talk for people like these is to suggest we represent animals," Mr Ruto said in apparent reference to this clause of the communique. The agriculture minister said the PM should be held responsible for the humanitarian crisis facing the settlers, who have already spent a week in the cold, allegedly without food, clothing and medication. A statement signed by the chief coordinator of the Interim Coordinating Secretariat on the Mau, Mr Hassan Noor Hassan, which indicated that those moving out of the forest should return to their original homes, perhaps irks Rift Valley MPs more. The MPs, however, claim that the people have no other home and that explains why they are now camping at Kipkongor. Elsewhere, National Heritage Minister William Ole Ntimama asked Kalenjin MPs to stop inciting the squatters to go back to their farms in the forest, adding that they are acting unwisely. He said the MPs are providing a recipe for disaster and ethnic clashes by demanding that the squatters be resettled on alternative land, without which they would be told to go back to their homes in the forest. "They are setting the stage for tribal clashes and a bid to exterminate all people. Everybody must be removed from the forest since Mau does not belong to them but to Kenyans and the world," said the Narok North MP. "Rivers are drying up, lake levels are going down and we don't want a disaster for this country," said Mr Ntimama, who has been among the most outspoken MPs on the restoration of the Mau since he raised the matter of its destruction in parliament 10 years ago. Mr Ntimama said the MPs should not be branded as Rift Valley leaders but representatives of the Kalenjin, the only group they were speaking for. Mr Ibrahim Mwathane, a consultant on land, accused the MPs of abdicating their responsibility to Kenyans and the rest of the world. "The Rift Valley MPs seem to totally misunderstand their wider responsibility to this country," said Mr Mwathane. Kenya Land Alliance head Odenda Lumumba said the lack of a clear policy on the resettlement has given politicians the opportunity to exploit the situation for their own selfish interests. Kenyan minister faults media, aid groups over forest evictions 16th November Media reports in Kenya say about 3,000 people have moved out of Mau Forest in the southwest of the country, days after the expiry of a notice given by the government asking settlers in the forest to leave. Evictions in the country's biggest water source are set to begin 16 November. Kalenjin-language Kass FM radio station on 16 November discussed the issue that has become the talk of national media. The breakfast show (Lenee emet - view of the nation) that featured Franklin Bett, the minister for roads and MP for Bureti Constituency in Bureti District was presented by Joshua arap Sang and Timothy Chepsoi. Sang said that the estimated 3,000 people who have left the forest and are camping at the edge of it in are now without food, shelter and basic items and are still waiting for government assistance. They presenter asked the listeners to send their cash, food, clothing and other donations to assist them. On 15 November, Bett and his cabinet colleague William Ruto lead a group of Kalenjin MPs to visit the people who have left the forest. They said that the government had promised that it would handle the evictions humanely, face but there is a humanitarian crisis as those affected are now camping by the road side on the outskirts of the forest. Over the weekend, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, at a meeting attended by the president and all government ministers criticized unnamed ministers criticizing collective cabinet decision on Mau Forest. A day later, Ruto said collective responsibility does not bind him from speaking out for the people. "We have no apologies to make for demanding that these people be treated as human beings. To suggest that we should remain silent rather than talk for people like these is to suggest we represent animals," Mr Ruto was quoted by local media 16 November as saying. Interview The following are excerpts of the conversation with the guest Mr Bett and comments made by the listeners. (Bett) First of all I would like to greet all the Kalenjin wherever they are and more so the people of Mau and I tell them God is with us as is said in Psalms 23 that the lord is my shepherd I shall not want. What I would have said has been said by the leaders. The president has spoken, the prime minister has spoken and the minister of forestry and we have also spoken. Those who are suffering have also spoken and they have spoken well. Chepsoi said that he heard they are sleeping under leafs. I would like to speak up because I was there and I have seen it with my eyes. These people came out voluntarily after the request by the government. The Kalenjin people listen to the government and they obey the laws of the government . 6 They came out voluntarily because the government made an appeal and added that they would give them alternative settlement. Just like the scriptures they believe with their whole heart. They have built the structures they can using branches and leaves. This is where they are all staying children, parents, grand parents. There are no walls and things to sleep in. It is painful because some of the children who are there were born yesterday, three days, three weeks old, we held those children. The papers do not want to show them because some of them belong to other tribes, even television stations. Give out the clothes you do not need anymore so that we can give them. Imagine a small infant three or four days old and yet it is said they are Kenyans. A small child who does not know anything about their rights. Where are their rights? The Red Cross is there when such things occur. Where are they? Those who always run to the media are not being seen, people like Muite, when things occur he is there. I would like to thank those who came out to help by giving their contributions because they know that no one likes us. I urge them not to stop helping. (Sang) What should we expect today? Some have come out voluntarily and those who have not left will be evicted start ing today. As leaders what is the way forward? (Bett) I would like to say what we agreed in the cabinet and also in parliament that the forest needs to be conserved. This is because of many reasons. The government asked us to urge the people to come out of the forest. We asked what would happen after they came out. They said that they would provide alternative settlement and we thought that it was good and we agreed. I believe it was in this station when I told people that they would be compensated. I said this because it had come from the government. Now they are making us look like liars before our people. After the government said this, they said that they would provide transport to the new habitation, there would be medicine, food and all those other things. None of these things were done. They said there would be security for them. Yesterday, when we were there, there was no one. I asked the youth to look after the children and women. I told the government to allow them to harvest their crop but the security forces are now harvesting the crop, monkeys and elephants are now eating them. What is all this ab out, then we will ask for aid. There are some students who did not sit for their exams because they were psychologically affected by the announcement. I would like to say that we thought that as the government drags its feet we should help our people. I therefore ask our churches to collect things (items) from their congregations, councillors also. You can also take donations to the Red Cross Society. We also urge the government to help. I will look for Uhuru Kenyatta (finance minister) because they had spoke with Ruto. If it becomes hard, I will look for the prominent one [possibly referring to the president] to do a follow up on and that is what we will do today. I ask for assistance to keep flowing. I thank those who are in America for making plans to send assistance. Those in the forest have made committees. I thank one of them a member of the Ogiek community who prayed until I had tears in my eyes. Some of them were born in the forest. They were told to fill forms. (Sang) I saw the form it was written illegal... (Bett) We saw that and we wondered, we laughed at the term illegal. There is nothing like an illegal squatter, squatters are squatters. How can you be a squatter as Ogiek, people who inhabit the area? I thank those people and ask them to be accountable for the assistance they are given and to distribute the aid fairly. Let it be known by the government that the leadership in the Rift Valley Province is not against conservation but we are against brutalization of the people contrary to the laws of this country and international laws on human rights. (Sang) In the grand coalition government, we are shocked at what has happened to our people. What are your thoughts and what are you doing in this government? (Bett) We are not leaving; we are staying until they tell us to leave. We voted for this government and we will struggle inside. The rights of our people are their rights whether we are in government or not. I tell our leaders to be united and look after our people. (Sang) Some have said if it is possible for the wealthy among the Kalenjin to contribute an acre or so to allow them to live there near the forest until they are resettled. (Bett) I heard that yesterday. We have called on the government because these are our people. What happens when they refuse to resettle them because they have a place? (Sang) Another step will be taken. (Bett) Let us assist them first as we wait for resettlement. You may be selling yourself out .They may say that they now have a place. Those from central did not take such a move until recently when they started volunteering land. This is after 2years (referring to the people displaced in 2008 after elections). They were being told to stay put through their stations like this. Remember that if they go, out of sight out of mind. (Sang) Your last word. (Bett) There is one thing I forgot, I would like to ask the youth that they should not be incited. I have heard t hat some want 7 to say they should be beaten, but do not agree to be involved in matters that can smear you. We should handle this matter in peace and with wisdom. No one should touch anyone from any tribe. If you are angry at a person it is an individual an d not a group. That is my appeal and the appeal of all the leaders. Listeners The following are few selected views from the listeners. (Text message from Reuben) The government should assist those who have come out voluntarily. They should not suffer. (Caller Councillor Chemoina) I would like to thank you for having the Kalenjin people at heart. We want people to see the unity we have in helping our people. This is something that has never happened to the Kalenjin. We heard what the person we voted for said, that people should go where they came from. Does this also mean that those who are in Rift Valley also had a place where they came from and should go back? Otherwise the leaders should unite and we should help each other. We should have a fund-raising to assist them. If it is politics then we can now read the signs. We can only put God first. Al-Shabab's threat to WFP linked to US probe on businessmen Text of report by Somali pro-Puntland government website on 16 November Al-Shabab militias led by Ali Dheere yesterday accused the WFP of deliberately undermining Somali farmers by distributing food aid during harvesting time. Conflicting reports are now emerging on the issue surrounding Al-Shabab accusations leveled against WFP. Allpuntland has received reports indicating that the accusations by Al-Shabab against WFP have coincided with investigations on some of the WFP officials by the FBI. Senior WFP and American Intelligence officials have been scrutinizing some of the major contracts WFP gave to individuals such as Eynow, Abdiqadir Adan and Deylaaf in southern Somali regions. These businessmen who have been awarded WFP contracts are being accused of having ties with Al-Shabab and Hisb Al-Islam and funding their operations. It has been reported that a decision to suspend the WFP contracts given to these businessmen have been made in recent investigations after they were suspected of supp orting armed opposition groups. Senior WFP officials and those of the FBI are now concerned about the cancellation of the WFP contract for Deylaaf, Adani and Enynow have now coincided with Al-Shabab's threats that they were going to ban the organization from operating in Somalia. Increasing hunger could fuel conflict in Southern Sudan Text of report by Nairobi-based online news service of UN regional information network IRIN on 16 November (IRIN) POCHALLA, 16 November 2009: An increasing number of people in Southern Sudan cannot find enough to eat or adequate pasture and water for their livestock, raising fears of conflict between communities over grazing lands, local leaders warned. "Where there was peace, there was no rain and then where there were good rains, there was insecurity," Kuol Manyang, governor of Jonglei State, said. His counterpart from Upper Nile State, Gutlauk Deng Garang, warned that hunger would force pastoralist cattle herders to move their animals, sharply increasing the likelihood of clashes with rival ethnic groups. "We expect the cattle herders to start moving soon, and then it is expected [that there will] be conflict between the Lou and the Jikany Nuer," Garang told IRIN recently. Conflict between the Shilluk and Dinka communities had added to food insecurity, he said. More than 2,000 people have died and about 350,000 have been displaced by violence across Southern Sudan since January, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The World Food Programme (WFP), which began airdropping food in the area on 4 November, estimates that 1.2 million people are already facing serious food insecurity in Southern Sudan. "Air drops are a last resort to get food into these inaccessible places during this time of hunger," Michelle Iseminger, head of WFP in Southern Sudan, told reporters at Pochalla, a remote settlement on Sudan's border with Ethiopia. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the food insecurity in the region is part of the wider threat facing eastern Africa and the Horn, where prolonged drought and mounting conflict have left an estimated 20 million people needing food aid. The warning came at a tense time for Southern Sudan, which is struggling to recover from a 22-year civil war that ended less than five years ago. Elections are due in April, followed by a referendum on the south's potential full independence in 2011. "If we are not able to handle the situation well... repairing adequate supplies... we can expect very, very significant levels [of hunger] which can border on the red flag emergency, which becomes a famine," Hilde Johnson, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) deputy executive director, said during an 8 November visit to Jonglei's capital, Bor. "When natural resources are being diminished on a daily basis, you will see hard pressure coming in on already meagre resources," Johnson added. "This will exacerbate conflict, there is absolutely no doubt." Zambia: Banda arrives in Italy to attend world summit on food security Text of report by state-owned national newspaper Times of Zambia website on 16 November President Rupiah Banda arrived in Rome, Italy to attend the World summit on Food Security which officially opened yesterday. The plane carrying president Banda touched down at Ciampino Airport in Rome at 12:45 hours after a one and 8 half hour flight from the Libyan capital Tripoli. Zambia's ambassador to Italy Lucy Mungoma and other senior Government officials were on hand to receive president Banda on arrival Mr Banda's touch down at Ciampino Airport was closely followed by that of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi who is also in Rome for the same summit. Mr Banda was later driven to Westin Excelstor Hotel where he would stay while in Rome. The world summit on food security, the third at heads of State and government level since 1996, has been convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to secure a broad consensus on the total eradication of hunger from the world by 2025. The summit has been called against a backdrop of increasing global food insecurity worsened by the global economic crisis with food prices remaining stubbornly high beyond the reach of most people. The FAO says it is unacceptable that more than one billion people worldwide, mostly in developing countries, do not have enough food to meet their daily nutritional needs. Director General Jacques Diouf said the UN organization estimated the number of hungry mouths worldwide could increase by 100 million as a result of the global economic and financial crisis. He said significant additional investment in agriculture averaging $209 billion per year, was required in primary agriculture and downstream services such as storage and marketing to eliminate poverty and achieve food security in developing countries. For Zambia, president Banda and his delegation bring to the summit an encouraging overall national food security situation in which the 2009 maize yield stands at 1.89 million tonnes, 31 per cent above the 2008 harvest. Statistics also show that wheat production increased by five per cent over the 2008 output. The good harvest is attributed to the good agricultural policies that Government has put in place such as the farmer input support programme which has made inputs not only afordable, but also accessible and available to farmers throughout the country. Yemen says fishing boats seized by Eritrean pirates th Text of report in English by state-run Yemeni news agency Saba website 16 November Hudaydah, 16 November: Eritrean pirates have seized six Yemeni fishing boats in the international waters, an attack that comes within continuous harassment and provocation exercised against the Yemeni boats by the Eritreans. Under gun threat, they pulled the boats with 89 fishermen on them to Harmel island in Eritrea and confiscated all the boats' contents and tools, the information centre of the Interior Ministry said. The Red Sea-based Coastguard said that the pirates released a boat with 78 fishermen onboard. The boat has already reached Yemeni coast. However, another 11 Yemeni fishermen with 5 boasts are still held by the Eritreans. East African states urged to harmonize laws, policies on food production Text of report by Charles Kazooba entitled "Coming soon: New law on cross-border trade to end hunger" published by Kenyan newspaper The EastAfrican website on 16 November Hunger will be a thing of the past in the region should plans by the East African Community to start formal cross border trade in food yield positive results. Consultations to generate laws to enhance food security have kicked off, with promises of support by the five member states. "Food insecurity is largely due to a leadership crisis. As a political class, we must reorganize the administration of food distribution in the region," said Dan Kidega, a Uganda MP at the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA). He spoke during consultations on food security in Kampala last week. "There is a lot of poor planning at national levels. A regional food strategy is the way to go." The EAC Secretariat and EALA members say borders should be opened to allow internal trade in food - from the surplus areas to the deficit ones. About 20 million people in East Africa are facing hunger. They are dependent on emergency food aid - which distorts regional economics. However, various hurdles still lie in the way to food security in the region. For instance, during the consultative process, the majority of EALA members said it would be necessary to first harmonize laws and policies on food production and land tenure. "We shall not change anything unless we have an agrarian reform, like the British did two centuries ago. Our governments should take this issue as a priority," said Fortunatua Masha, an EALA MP from Tanzania. The proposals will guide the formation of the Food Security Protocol that will bind the five member states - Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Kenya and Tanzania. The MPs said 10 per cent of their partner states' budgets should be invested in rural areas, as opposed to research and extension services - as agreed during the Maputo Declaration. In the new food legislation, provisions will be made to compel partner states to shift storage facilities to the regional headquarters. Also, all member states will have to create buffer stocks, the MPs said. The partner states also ruled out future dependence on food aid, which has led to price distortion and lower food production. "We shouldn't depend on food aid. Let's set aside a pool that will help distribute food in the region," said Bohela Lunogelo, the executive director of Economic and Social Research Foundation. The foundation is the leading agency on consolidation of the region's new food law. Food insecurity has been rising in East Africa lately. It has resulted in stunted growth, especially in western Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, southern Tanzania and northern and southern Kenya. In 2007, demand for food remained strong despite rising prices. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics says informal cross-border food exports totalled 126.3m dollars, according to a 2007 survey. Demand remained strong in the first half of 2008. Researchers say most cross-border trade in East Africa is informal, with high transaction costs. As a result, such trade has been low and unstable. 9 Kenyan MPs demand land for evicted Mau Forest settlers Text of report by John Ngirachu and George Sayagie entitled ''MPs demand land for evicted Mau squatters'' published by Kenyan privately-owned newspaper Daily Nation website on 16 November; subheadings inserted editorially A group of Rift Valley [Province] leaders has demanded that squatters evicted from the Mau Forest [in southwestern Kenya] be given alternative land. The leaders, who included two cabinet ministers, accused the Kenyan government of breaking a promise to resettle the squatters. The emotional meeting was attended by Agriculture Minister William Ruto and his roads counterpart Franklin Bett. Mr Ruto, Mr Bett and assistant minister Jebii Kilimo left the government retreat in Mombasa early to attend the meeting at Kipkongor in Kuresoi District. Mr Ruto said collective responsibility does not bind him from speaking out for the people. "We have no apologies to make for demanding that these people be treated as human beings. To suggest that we should remain silent rather than talk for people like these is to suggest we represent animals," Mr Ruto said. Mr Bett asked the squatters to "stay put", though it was not clear whether he was asking them to stay in the camps or in the forest. "The government has failed to abide by the promise that those removed from the forest will be resettled. They have not. And before they assure us that they will be, we are asking you to stay put," he said. The leaders singled out Prime Minister [PM] Raila Odinga for criticism, saying he was responsible for the suffering of the evicted squatters, now living camps. The settlers started moving out of the forest last week at the expiry of a government notice. Settlement in the Mau Forest has destroyed an important source of water, endangering the livelihoods of nearly half of Kenya's population. The eviction of the settlers, many of whom live on the forest land illegally, was approved by parliament which, however, bound the government to follow the law. The charged meeting on Saturday [14 November], at one of the camps set up by the squatters in Kuresoi District, was addressed by the two ministers, MPs and councillors. Their criticism of Mr Odinga came on the same day it was agreed that ministers and assistant ministers will be bound by collective responsibility, oath of secrecy, speak with one voice and avoid publicly criticizing each other. Kipkongor is host to about 3,000 settlers who have set up camp there after moving from their homes at Kiptegelde, Langam and Tigolwe, about 10 kilometres away. A new order requiring settlers to move out of the forest by Sunday has hastened migration out of the Mau. In September, when the report of the taskforce on Mau was adopted by the House, Rift Valley MPs lobbied their colleagues to push the government to follow the law in evicting the squatters. On Saturday, the MPs said Mr Odinga had betrayed them by enforcing the evictions before alternative land was identified for the squatters. "There have been no meetings in cabinet where it was agreed that people be removed and dumped on the roadside or made to live under leaves like you are. If there were any meetings to do that, they were illegal," Mr Ruto said. The agriculture minister said the PM should be held responsible for the humanitarian crisis facing the settlers, who have already spent a week in the cold, allegedly without food, clothing and medication. Mr Ruto, an influential leader in the Rift Valley, accused Mr Odinga of pursuing international fame by championing the restoration of the forest "at the expense of the lives of innocent Kenyans". Mr Bett asked Mr Odinga not to brand them as inciters for speaking on behalf of their electorate. Kuresoi MP Zakayo Cheruiyot said at the next election, Mr Odinga will be asked to "stand up and be counted with his people and then we will see on whose side the people are". Mr Ruto said he had discussed the situation with the president, Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Dr Naomi Shaban of Special Programmes and it was agreed the government would identify land for the resettlement of the squatters. The squatters camped at Kapsongor have no land ownership or allocation documents. They claim to be Ogieks, a forest-dwelling community, who have lived in the forest all their lives. The MPs used the occasion to drum up support for Mr Ruto's presidential bid. Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto, one of the PM's fiercest critics, accused him of misleading the Kalenjin community at the last general election, adding that President Kibaki had won the disputed vote. Cooperatives Development Assistant Minister Jebii Kilimo echoed Mr Ruto's statements on the president's disputed re-election, saying the community had made a mistake by supporting Mr Odinga during the last election. Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny said the battle against Mr Odinga would be taken to p arliament. "He should not tell us to shut up about the Mau. We can bring him down and we will," he said. Others who attended the meeting, where maize flour, cooking fat and blankets were donated, were MPs Joyce Laboso (Sotik), Luka Kigen (Rongai), Sammy Mwaita (Baringo Central), Moses Lessonet (Eldama Ravine), Benjamin Lang'at (Ainamoi) and Beatrice Kones (Bomet). Aid agencies have been slow to provide assistance to the settlers, possibly because mushrooming of camps had not been anticipated and the government had promised that the evictions would be carried out in a humane and dignified manner. On Sunday, Mr Odinga's Spokesman Mr Dennis Onyango said the PM was not seeking popularity by fighting for the conservation of the Mau. "Saving the Mau is not a popularity contest for Raila Odinga or a punishment he is meting out on anyone. I doubt there is any part of the world where the PM is not known for his principled position on issues before he began the Mau campaign," he said. He said saving the Mau was a patriotic duty meant to benefit all Kenyans, including the people of Rift Valley. "If saving the Mau has earned the PM fame, it is because there are people out there who believe it needed to be done," he said. Mr Onyango said the Mau secretariat ought to be given time to ensure the squatters are settled. He accused Rift Valley leaders of trying to get political mileage out of the evictions. "It appears to us that the politicians are using the Mau to gain fame and mileage at the grassroots at the expense of Kenya," he said. 10 Japan grants 860,000 dollars for water projects in Yemen Text of report in English by state-run Yemeni news agency Saba website 14th November [14/November/2009] SANA'A, Nov.14 (Saba) - An agreement was signed here on Saturday [14 Nov] at Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation through which Japanese government grants $860,000 to Yemen for financing the rural water projects. The agreement signed by Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Abd-al-Karim al-Arhabi and Charge d'affaires of Japan embassy in Sana'a includes funding and preparing a detailed design for the rural water supply project. The project aims at providing water in 19 areas including five provinces via constructing installations of the project scheduled to be inaugurated in 2010. Al-Arhabi praised the Japanese continuous support to the development process in Yemen, affirming Yemen's keenness on promoting the bilateral cooperation frames between Yemen and Japan. It is worthy to mention that Japan's annual support average to Yemen amounts to $20 million dedicated for funding developmental projects in fields of water, education, agriculture, electricity and sea security. Woman eats her new born baby due to hunger in southern Sudanese state Bakhita FM, Juba, in English 1600 gmt 13 Nov 09 Hunger has made some residents of Budi County to migrate looking for food elsewhere in Equatoria State and Uganda, a youth leader said. Hetro Loboi is the chairperson of Eastern Equatoria State [Southern Sudan] Youth Parliament. He told Sudan Catholic Radio News that famine and prolonged drought have affected many citizens in Eastern Equatoria. Loboi said people in Kikilai and Lotukai payams [localities] left their homes and now live in a displaced camp in Chukudum [Eastern Equatoria State]. He added that some citizens are even crossing the border to Uganda in search of food. Mr Loboi said this displacement will affect the next general elections and the referendum as citizens are not concentrating on voter registration. This morning Radio Emmanuel reported that a woman has eaten her new born baby in Torit town due to hunger. UN officials have warned that food aid is needed urgently to avert a major hunger crisis in southern Sudan. Kenya's Mau Forest settlers said trooping out Text of report by Mark Agutu and George Sayagie entitled "Mau settlers troop out as forest force arrives" published by Kenyan privately-owned newspaper Daily Nation website on 12 November, subheading as published The flow of illegal settlers out of Mau Forest started on Wednesday [11 November], a day after the government deployed security officers ready to evict them. The settlers, frightened by the show of force and a history of brutal evictions, appealed to the government to give them alternative land even as they packed their belongings, ready to leave. Though there was panic in some of the villages, a full scale migration had not started. However, some settlers were already moving out. At Chematich and Tiriyta villages deep in Ndoinet Forest, one of the areas targeted in the first phase of the evictions, farmers were packing up and moving away. After weeks of dithering in the hope that the government's resolve would crumble, the arrival of armed rangers in their villages seemed to have finally persuaded some villagers that there was lit tle to be gained by staying on. About 300 officers, the first batch of an eviction force, were deployed in the area on Monday and pitched two camps at Kapkembu and Saina in southwestern Mau. The officers maintained that their job was to provide security and that they would only kick out those who were reluctant to move. A notice requiring the illegal settlers to move out of the largest water tower in Kenya, which measures about 400,000 hectares, expired on Monday. Kenya Forestry Services director David Mbugua said the government chose southwestern Mau for the start of the evictions because the settlers had no documents to back their occupation of the forest land. The move also marked a crucial stage in the battle that Prime Minister Raila Odinga has fought to reclaim the water tower. Rift Valley MPs had earlier opposed the evictions of the settlers and demanded they be compensated before they could be ordered to leave. However, the settlers will now wait for the compensation as the government seeks to raise 38bn shillings [534.5m dollars] to finance the evictions, compensation, planting of trees and fencing. On Wednesday, a crowd of some 200 villagers gathered at an open field within Tiriyta farm, some 70 kilometres from Molo Town, from as early as dawn after word went round that the officers would be moving in to evict those who are still on their farms. As fear of forceful eviction spread, the villagers came out with the little they could carry, leaving behind homes, property and a ripening maize crop. A few dragged along their reluctant goats and tethered them at the field as they awaited word from the authorities. Asked if they had permanently left their homes, the villagers said they had property which they could not carry and were still hoping that the government would give them more time to move. Their main concern was the maize in the farms, which most of them were looking forward to harvesting in a few months. Some of those interviewed said they had lived in the forest for decades and evicting them had left them as internally displaced persons. "We are not against moving out, but where to?" asked Mr David Ng'eno. He showed a number of land allocation cards from the government indicating that the owners had been given five acres each within the Ndoinet Settlement Scheme. Most of the cards were issued through the Nakuru District Commissioner's office in 1996. "We need help from the government. We have documents showing we were genuinely given the land." Ms Sabina Boses, a mother of six, said the five acres she lived on was her family's only possession. She asked the government to consider giving those affected alternative land. "Even if we are given half an acre, it will be enough place to put my head," she said. Earlier, Mr Isaac Wafula, the Ndoinet Forest Officer, said the settlers had started filing out after the arrival of the officers. "They may not be moving out en masse, but once a few started moving out, the message sunk that 11 there was no other alternative and the others are following suit," he told the [Daily] Nation. The government had announced that it would begin evicting the settlers yesterday, the first step in reclaiming part of the 400,000 hectare forest complex, an important source of water for the country. On Tuesday, Wildlife Minister Noah Wekesa said the first phase of the eviction targets 16,000 families on 19,000 hectares. The Kenya Forestry Service says the families have no documents and no right to be in the forest. Beijing hikes non-residential water prices Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) 18th November BEIJING, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) - Beijing will raise non-residential water rates starting Friday to encourage water saving in the thirsty Chinese capital, local government said Wednesday. The water resource fee for non-residential use climbs by 0.22 yuan per cubic meter and wastewater treatment fee rises by 0.18 yuan, said the municipal development and reform commission. The price hikes were aimed at encouraging water saving and recycling in a bid to ease water shortages in Beijing, the commission said. The water rates for industry and commerce, and hotels, restaurants and the catering industry rise to 6.21 yuan (91 US cents) per cubic meter from 5.6 yuan and 6.1 yuan, respectively. The rate for government and public agencies is increased from 5.4 yuan to 5.8 yuan per cubic meter. The planning agency also raised water prices for the car-washing and purified water sectors to 61.68 yuan from 41.50 yuan per cubic meter. The water price for the bath industry is raised to 81.68 yuan from 61.50 yuan per cubic meter. A public hearing on water rate hikes for residential use will be held in the "short-term", the agency added. Nigeria working on space technology to enhance development Text of report by privately owned daily Nigerian Tribune website on 18 November [Report by Clement Idoko: "FG Explores Space Technology To Boost Agriculture"] The Federal Government, in collaboration with the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) Trieste, Italy, is working on exploring the applications of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to enhance development of the country. GNSS is a space technology, whose application can be used to increase food security, manage natural resources, provide efficient emergency location services and improve survey and mapping, among others. Executive Secretary National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie, speaking in Abuja, on Tuesday, at a capacity building workshop, disclosed that about 25 Nigerian experts had been trained by foreign experts from Boston College, USA, and ICTP on the application of the GNSS. Represented by the Director, Research and Innovations at the NUC, Professor Val Ekechukwu, Okojie stated that the initiative would also help boost Nigeria's security system, provide precision and safety in land, water and air navigation systems. South Korea: 30,000 farmers protest at plummeting rice prices Text of report in English by South Korean left-of-centre daily newspaper Hankyoreh on 18 November HANKYOREH) -Approximately 30 thousand South Korean farmers convened together for a National Farmers' Convention to ask the government to address plummeting rice prices on Tuesday. A total of 13 farmers' organizations including the Korea Peasant League (KPL) hosted the convention together with 30 special guests in order to ask the government to resolve the problem of plummeting rice prices and to reform the Nonghyup, or National Agricultural Cooperative Federation. The participants said, "The government has exhibited irresponsible behaviour in that it has not formulated a policy to help address the issue of plummeting rice prices." The participants are also asking the government to resume rice aid to North Korea and said, "The main cause of plummeting rice prices is the government's decision not to send rice aid to North Korea." The participants added, "During the previous administration, 400 thousand tons of rice were sent to North Korea annually, whereas the current administration has stocked up over 800 thousand tons of rice." They say the excess reserves of rice are one of main causes of the steep decline in the price of rice. The participants are also demanding the reform of Nonghyup and said, "Nonghyup should be reborn as an organization that serves ordinary farmers." Other convention participants included Chung Sye-gyun [Cho'ng Se-gyun], chairman of the Democratic Party (DP), Kang Ki-gap, chairman of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) and Roh Hoe-chan, Chairman of the New Progressive Party (NPP). After the convention, several hundred members of KPL staged a demonstration at various places through Seoul City. In the Jongno district, approximately 300 members tried participate in Samboilbae, three steps and one bow, towards the Cheong Wa Dae [ROK Office of the President] (the presidential office in South Korea or Blue House), however the police arrested eight people and dispersed the remaining members. In the Sejongno neighbourhood, seven out of another 300 farmers that marched were arrested. 12 Arab League chief says "Israel usurps most fertile Palestinian lands" Text of report by Egyptian state-run news agency MENA website Rome, 17 November: Arab League Secretary General Amr Musa said Israeli settlers are usurping the most fertile Palestinian agricultural lands and water resources threatening to trigger a stifling food crisis, given that the Palestinians are suffering from severe malnutrition. Addressing a summit on world food security in Rome, Musa said the league gives top priority to the issue of food security. Since an Arab summit in Riyadh in March, 2007, the Arab League has approved a strategy for Arab agricultural sustainable development for the coming two decades, Musa said. The league also approved an initiative to boost Arab cooperation to face the global food crisis, he went on to say. The Arab League chief, meanwhile, underlined the importance of luring further capital into suitable agricultural areas in the Arab region. France, Brazil call for two-year world food security "road map" Text of report by French news agency AFP 16th November Rome, 16 November 2009: At the FAO summit in Rome on Monday [16 November], France and Brazil proposed "the rapid debate and adoption of a two-year road map" for world food security. "This road map should be shared by all of the players. It needs to consolidate the prospective visions for a sustainable, healthy food supply by the year 2050", said French Agriculture Minister Bruno Le Maire and Brazilian Agriculture Minister Guillerme Cassel, in a joint statement. "It needs to make provision for recommendations to improve the efficiency and the coordination of aid," according to the statement. "We have decided to work together with Brazil, to take concrete measures to promote agricultural development, agricultural independence in the greatest possible number of countries in the world and with the aim of fighting hunger in the world by specific means," Mr Le Maire told the press. "We are going to work on the basis of three specific themes," Mr Le Maire, specified, citing first of all "the stabilization of agricultural prices and world regulation of agricultural markets" The other two themes are "the purchase and the predation of agricultural land around the world" and "sustainable development". According to the joint statement, "after [the] Copenhagen [climate-change summit, opening on 7 December], fresh effort must be put into adapting and attenuating" the impact of climate change on agriculture. St Lucia agriculture minister upbeat about banana industry despite EU tariffs Text of report by Caribbean Media Corporation news agency website on 17 November Castries, St Lucia: St Lucia's Agriculture Minister Ezechiel Joseph says he is confident that the banana industry will survive despite fears that Caribbean countries may have to contend with Europe having to implement further tariff cuts and reduce preferential treatment for the entry of the commodity on the European market. In 1997, the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that the EU's banana import regime was inconsistent with WTO rules since the EU's tariff quota allocation, particularly to the African, Caribbean, Pacific (ACP) countries, were contrary to the non-discrimination rule of the General Agreement on Tariffs & Trade (GATT). Further, the WTO said that the EU's licensing procedures were contrary to the most favoured nation (MFN) rule and the national treatment rule. Two years later, the EU introduced a new banana import regime but the WTO ruled in April 1999 that this new regime was also incompatible with the EU's WTO obligations. In May 2000, the WTO granted Ecuador authorization to impose sanctions up to an amount of US201.6m dollars per year on EU exports to Ecuador. On 31 January 2005, after several months of consultations with non-preferential banana- supplying countries, the EU informed the WTO of its new banana tariff: Euro230 (US341 dollars) per tonne. But earlier this year, the EU and Latin American banana producers agreed to cut the EU's import duty to Euro 114 (US179 dollars) a tonne by 2016 after an initial cut to Euro148 (US220 dollars) in 2009 from Euro 176 (US261 dollars). Caribbean banana officials said that current talks in Europe on the banana industry couldresult in further cuts and Joseph said that while the new situation may result in more farmers leaving the industry, he was nonetheless confident that the sector could survive. He said that farmers cannot continue producing 20 tons of bananas per acre and "by doubling or tripling our production we can compete. "I am not so much concern about what is happening, what I am concerned about is what we have control over let us work and make it better... and if we could get it right I think the banana industry will survive... "He said the answer now lies in teaching farmers how to increase productivity, calling also for support for them in the prevailing situation. "The farmers must get the support, the farmers must get the support with regards to inputs on a timely basis, there must be a reliable supply and we have to see how we could reduce the costs so as to enable them to remain." Joseph said among the problems facing the industry is the "inconsistency with regards to inputs" noting that the new technology being used in the banana sector meant that those inputs had to be available on time. 13 China proposes four-point action plan to eradicate world hunger th Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) 16 November [Xinhua: " China Proposes Four-Point Action Plan To Eradicate World Hunger"] ROME, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) - Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu on Monday proposed a four-point action plan aimed at eradicating world hunger in his address to a world summit on food security. Stressing the fact that the financial crisis has worsened the plight of the poor and the hungry, the Chinese vice premier said the summit, hosted at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO) headquarters here, was "of special significance to world food security, global economic recovery and sustainable development." In order to overcome the "dual pressure of an international financial crisis and a global food crisis," the first suggestion of the Chinese government was to increase input and raise food production by investing more in agriculture, build up the capability to resist natural disasters and strive for greater self-sufficiency. Both industrialized and developing countries should in the long run forge their own "blood-generating" capacity, Hui said. He called on developed countries and international organizations to provide developing countries with financial, technological, market and capacity-building assistance. The second Chinese suggestion presented to world leaders at the FAO summit was to "create a sound market environment for mutual benefit and win-win progress," obtainable through the elimination of all sorts of protectionism, the re-launch of the Doha Round negotiations and the reform of global financial governance. "All countries should jointly oppose trade protectionism in all its forms and manifestations and push for a positive outcome of the Doha Round negotiations," he said, urging developed countries to slash agricultural subsidies, remove trade barriers and give greater market access to developing countries. Thirdly, Hui proposed to push forward with the reform of the UN food and agriculture agencies and improve the global governance mechanism in order to rapidly react to crises. "China supports the creation of a food security safeguard system encompassing early warning, emergency relief and regulation functions," he said. Lastly, the Chinese government called for a coordinated and global approach in order to ensure a balanced growth. "Food security is closely related to economic growth, social progress, climate change and energy security," Hui said, adding that global cooperation must be intensified in all sectors because challenges are multiple and interconnected. This is why all countries "should strive for a positive outcome of the upcoming Copenhagen summit on global warming," the Chinese vice premier said. The world summit on food security opened in Rome on Monday. During the three-day event more than 60 heads of state and government will gather to discuss measures to eradicate hunger and ensure food security. South African vice president to join world leaders in Rome to find ways to tackle food crisis Text of report by Pretoria Buanews Online in English on 16 November Pretoria -Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe will on Monday join 60 other world leaders in Rome to seek a solution to reducing global hunger. The World Food Summit, starting today, will look at strategies to tackle the crisis of food insecurity, as over a billion people suffer from chronic hunger. The three-day summit is hosted by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and is seen as a way to come up with key actions towards the eradication of hunger. South Africa has indicated that its support for the summit is informed by its desire to improve and strengthen the international multilateral system in its efforts to find a global solution to an international problem of food insecurity, that not only affects Africa, but also South Africa's poor, both in rural and urban areas. "The visit takes place within the context of strengthening North-South Dialogue and directly corresponds to South African foreign policy objectives of creating a better world for all by eradicating poverty and promoting food security particularly on the African continent," the Presidency said. According to the Presidency, South Africa will call for measures to strengthen the international resolve, by agreeing to implement commitments already made in previous meetings, particularly the commitment by G8 countries at L'Aquila. During the previous G8 summit in L'Aquila, donor countries committed $20billion to agricultural development. The situation of world hunger is said to be aggravated by the global economic crisis. An estimated 1.2 billion people globally are said to be severely affected by the food crisis with the majority in developing countries. In South Africa alone, 2.2 million households are regarded as food insecure and vulnerable. It is estimated that this group utilizes more than 60 per cent of their income on purchasing food. FAO blames this on the global financial crisis and a hike in the price of basic food commodities. The summit is expected to adopt an Outcome Document, emphasising the world's collective commitment to fight hunger and poverty. The Deputy President is accompanied by Minister Tina Joemat-Pattersson of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and Deputy Ministers Mathume Joseph Phaahla of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform and Ebrahim Ebrahim of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. Meanwhile, efforts to strengthen agriculture and enhance food security received a boost yesterday, thanks to new initiatives with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and a Brazilian university. The $1 billion agreement signed in Rome by FAO and IDB will fund agricultural development in 26 least developed countries that are members of both the Bank and FAO. The agreement aims to help leverage additional resources and bring total investment in the IDB-FAO programme to $5 billion by 2012. "This agreement comes at a critical moment, when the international community recognises it has neglected agriculture for many years. Today, sustained investment in agriculture, especially smallholder agriculture, is acknowledged as the key to food security," FAO said in a statement. 14 Cuba works to improve soil quality; halt land deterioration - official Text of report by Cuban government's official newspaper Granma website on 16 November Cienfuegos: In Cuba, nearly 70 per cent of the farming surface presents a natural fertility limitation, and nearly 45 per cent of the total surface area is suffering organic material losses. Dagoberto Rodriguez Lozano, director of the Soil Institute, which is part of the Ministry of Agriculture (MINAGRI), talked to Granma about the strategy for saving this valuable resource. He explained that the country's leadership, since the first moments of the Revolution's triumph, gave special attention to preserving natural resources. Institutions were created for the pursuit of research into protecting the soil and establishing controls for its use and management. In the 1990s, the government passed the National Programme for Soil Improvement and Conservation (PNMCS), under the direction of the MINAGRI. Currently, in 2009, tempered by the present situation, the strategy of updating the PNMCS until 2015 takes on new importance and coincides with the implementation of Decree-Law 259, regarding new land usufructuaries. A diagnosis, based on soil studies, has been performed for each producer. The goal is to evaluate the condition of their land to better guide them to grow the most suitable crops and achieve sustainable use of this resource. Over the course of the next three years, work will be done on more than 3 million hectares, with preference being given to areas of high-agricultural value. Among the most significant actions are conservation measures that do not entail numerous supplies and producer training. These measures include designing contour strips, sowing living barriers, managing organic material, and using harvest waste. Concurrently, attention will be given to the soil most deteriorated by the effects of acidity and alkalinity, using certain minerals, such as calcium carbonate and zeolite. This method will raise its productive capacity. Rodriguez Lozano highlighted that his institute was closely following the experience of conservation agriculture, launched in Guantanamo. Given its importance and results, this process may spread to suburban farming. Its aim is to prevent soil from remaining "naked" by leaving green biomass on the surface and planting seeds below this layer. In the medium and long term, these technologies make it possible to halt deterioration and recover soil. Factors that have led to the current situation We find ourselves forced to favour conservation, given that wasting the soil's surface is associated with climate change and other natural phenomena, such as extreme events and long droughts, without dismissing man's irresponsible behaviour. In the unique case of Cuba, several factors damage the soil, including the country's tropical geographical location, which by nature is aggressive. Deforestation constitutes another cause, as does the salinization stemming from the indiscriminate use of underground basins in areas close to the ocean. Another cause is acidity and alkalization. Improving our soil is an investment that will not pay dividends for at least another five years. Therefore, we must intensify our training of new and old producers so that they understand the usefulness of conservation and our future is not compromised. Hamas official warns World Food summit of Gaza crisis Text of report in English by pro-Hamas Palestinian Information Centre website on 16 November Palestinian minister of agriculture Dr Muhammad Al-Agha warned of what he called "the unseen famine" which started to manifest itself in the besieged and impoverished Gaza Strip. In a letter sent to the conference on world food security held in Rome on 15 November, Dr Agha stated that people in Gaza lack a lot of nutrients and vitamins necessary for human life, which particularly affect the health of children and pregnant women and result in poor immunity. He added that Gaza people have been suffering from a tight siege for more than three years, where Israel imposes a ban on shipments of dairy products, fresh food, meat and other vital needs to the Strip which leads to a rise in the incidences of anemia, osteomalacia and immunodeficiency. The minister pointed to the Israeli restrictions imposed on the entry of veterinary vaccines and immunizations necessary for protecting livestock in Gaza. Agha called on the conferees to help the Palestinian people live a decent life and support their families through robustly pressuring Israel to lift its siege on Gaza and end its violations against Palestinian fishermen and farmers. Russia's food donation to North Korea completed Text of report in English by state-run North Korean news agency KCNA website 17th November Pyongyang, November 17 (KCNA) - The Russian government's donation of food to the DPRK has been completed. The recent food donation is an expression of the traditional friendly relations between the two governments and peoples. Nigeria: Regional body launches 900m-dollar food security scheme Text of report by private Nigerian newspaper The Guardian website on 17 November [Report by Oghogho Obayuwana: "ECOWAS Unveils $900m Food Security Scheme"] A five-year programme designed to achieve food security in member-states has been unfolded by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The initiative, which will be executed through the Regional Partnership Compact, would breathe fresh air into agricultural productivity in the bloc. Consequently, to bankroll the scheme, ECOWAS leaders have created a regional fund for agriculture and food, from which $900 million would be invested over the sector in the next five years. This was part of measures evolved by participants at an international conference on 15 'Financing the Common Regional Agricultural Policy in West Africa (ECOWAP/CAADP)' in Abuja. ECOWAS said with the support of development partners, a "management rule" in the use of the funds "permits the pooling of resources and transparency in their utilisation." A statement on the resolutions adopted at the conference made available to The Guardian in Abuja yesterday, said policy reforms and investment have been strung together to ensure the followings: Promotion of strategic products for food sovereignty and self-sufficiency, guaranteeing returns on farmers' investments in the region; An overall environment conducive to regional agricultural development; And the reduction of food vulnerability as well as the promotion of sustainable access to food. Ministers of Agriculture from ECOWAS member states, representatives of agricultural bodies, banks, regional /international institutions, technical and finance partners as well as the African Union (AU) and the New Partnership for African's Development (NEPAD) who were present at the event, further spelt out the institutional framework for the success of the new programme. The framework is based on strengthening and coordinating capacities of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Water Resources, the creation of an Interdepartmental Committee for Agriculture and Food in charge of coordinating policy reforms, as well the establishment of a Consultative Committee for Agriculture and Food that includes the main actors of the agriculture and food sector and the establishment of a regional agency for agriculture and food to which the ECOWAS Commission will delegate the implementation of the regional programmes. Nigeria's Minister of State for Agriculture, Fidelia Njeze, pledged the Federal Government's commitment to achieving the objectives of the compact. A firm commitment was also made by the representative of Ecobank, Musa Sallah, who assured that the bank would work with ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) to ensure the success of the project. At a joint media briefing at the end of the meeting in Abuja, the Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Angel Losada, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Agriculture, Salifou Ousseni as well as his AU counterpart Keizine Boaz Blackie, reiterated that the ECOWAS, CAADP vision tallied with that of the bloc's Authority of Heads of State and Government, which is based on "a modern and sustainable agriculture based on the effectiveness and efficiency of family farms and the promotion of agricultural enterprises, productive and competitive in regional and international markets..." South Korea to increase agriculture aid to developing countries Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap 17TH November SEOUL, Nov. 17 (Yonhap) - South Korea will increase agricultural aid to developing countries suffering from chronic food shortages, government officials said Tuesday [ 17 November]. In a keynote address at a food security meeting of the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome on Monday [ 16 November], South Korean farm minister Jang Tae-Pyong [Jang Thae-p'yo'ng] said South Korea is uniquely placed to help other countries as it can share its own experience in overcoming food shortages, the officials said. "Jang pointed out that South Korea experienced serious food shortages only 40-50 years ago, but was able to overcome them in a relatively short period of time," according to a press release by the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Jang also reiterated Seoul's pledge to provide $100 million in aid over the next three years to help improve food security issues for developing economies. The pledge was made at a meeting of the UN Millennium Development Goals in September, they said. He was also quoted as saying in the meeting that South Korea is committed to setting aside 150,000 tons of rice as part of the Asian emergency food reserve programme. "The minister said that helping countries overcome famine must be a concerted global effort and called for efforts to cope for future unexpected hikes in food prices," the ministry said. Russia planning large-scale grain exports to Japan th Text of report in English by Japan's largest news agency Kyodo 17 November Moscow, Nov. 17 Kyodo - Russia is planning large-scale grain exports to Japan as the development of routes for grain exports to Asia has become a key challenge for the country, according to Russian sources familiar with the matter. Japanese trading companies such as Sojitz Corp. and Itochu Corp. are negotiating with Russian firms to construct a grain shipment facility with an annual capacity of 1 million tons or more at a port in the Russian Far East, they said. The companies are also considering a Japan-Russia joint venture to develop farms in Siberia and transport wheat and other farm products via railway to a Far East port for exports to Japan and other destinations, the sources said. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev hosted the World Grain Forum in St. Petersburg in June and emphasized the development of routes for grain exports to Asia as a key challenge for Russia. Russia became a grain exporter in 2001 after a sharp decline in grain production following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Its grain exports have increased steadily since then, exceeding 20 million tons in 2008. Russian Grain Association President Arkady Zlochevsky said Russia plans to boost annual grain exports to 50 million tons by 2020, expanding sales channels to cover the whole of Asia. But the Russian Far East region does not currently have a grain shipment facility, while shipments from a facility in the Black Sea area have increased up to its capacity as it handles nearly 90 per cent of Russia's total grain exports. Medvedev instructed his government in October to develop grain shipment facilities in the Far East among other regions, the sources said. 16 Japan: Minister dispels public concerns over blue-fin tuna catch quota cut th Text of report in English by Japan's largest news agency Kyodo 17 November Tokyo, Nov. 17 Kyodo - Fisheries minister Hirotaka Akamatsu on Tuesday dispelled public concerns fuelled by an international tuna conservation body's decision to cut the annual tuna catch, saying Japan has ample stocks of frozen tuna due to the recession. "I want people to know that there is no reason to fear tuna prices will spike or that the inventories of tuna will run out," the minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries said at a press conference. Commenting on the decision made Sunday by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas to slash the annual bluefin tuna catch limit by some 40 per cent in 2010, Akamatsu said, "It's good that we can continue fishing for tuna." The ICCAT's move to sharply curb tuna fishing in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea has raised concerns particularly among Japanese restaurant and shop owners about the future supply of bluefin tuna, popular as sushi and sashimi in Jap an. In October, Monaco proposed a total ban on international trade in Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna to the so-called Washington Convention, hoping that its proposal will be adopted in March when signatory nations of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora meet in Qatar. Akamatsu's remark indicated that he thinks Monaco's proposal is unlikely to be adopted. Seychelles' leader calls for more investment to avert climate change Text of unattributed report entitled "President calls for courageous action to feed world's hungry" published in English by Seychelles Nation newspaper website on 17 November Seychelles' President James Michel has made a strong appeal to world leaders to fulfill their promises of feeding the more than 1 billion of the world's hungry, while at the same time addressing the most pertinent looming crisis affecting world food security: climate change. "Words and declarations, however well-intentioned they be, will not suffice to tackle the root causes of hunger. They will not wipe the tears off the face of a hungry, bloated child somewhere in the underdeveloped world. We need collective action to find lasting solutions for world food security. We need decisive action to free mankind from poverty and hunger. And we need it now!" said President James Michel. The president was addressing heads of state attending the World Food Security Summit which opened yesterday at the UN Food and Agricultural Organization headquarters in Rome, Italy. President Michel called for more investment in agriculture to avert climate change as well as infrastructure, technology and environmental protection. He also stressed that developed countries needed equitable access to world markets as many subsidies practised in the developed world are currently distorting trade to the detriment of developing countries. President Michel also spoke of the new threat to food security in the Indian Ocean: piracy. "Somali pirates are venturing deeper and deeper into our waters, taking hostages, menacing shipping lanes, pouncing on industrial fishing vessels and threatening our artisanal fishing and tourism related activities. My government moved quickly to gather regional but more importantly global support particularly with countries having interest in the region. I express my gratitud e to them for their cooperation in eradicating the scourge of piracy which threatens our livelihood and food security." President Michel highlighted the plight of small island states in the imminent climate change crisis by pointing out that som e small low-lying islands are already facing the forced displacement of their inhabitants. He pointed out that the changing climate is negating the rights of islanders to live and work in the land of their birth; as a violation of dignity and a thre at to the very existence of the people. "When it comes to climate change, there will be no second chances. There can be no bailouts or deficit spending to save the earth from this impending disaster. We need to commit to a deal on emission cuts which is real and scientific. We must act today, to save our tomorrow," said President Michel. Commenting on the upcoming climate change summit in Copenhagen in December, the President noted the importance of keeping the political and action-led momentum of this forum. "Copenhagen was a beacon of hope, but its brightness is fading. We cannot afford for Copenhagen to be just a talk shop on climate change. It must rather be a forum on action to avert disaster. The choice is up to us. The choice to save humanity. We cannot at this late hour accept that a few countries which are primarily responsible for polluting our atmosphere hold hostage the survival of our planet." President Mugabe hails FAO's 70m-dollar facility to Zimbabwe Text of report by state-owned Harare-based Zimbabwean newspaper The Herald website on 17 November [Report by Hebert Zharare in Rome, Italy: "President Hails FAO"] President Mugabe has thanked the Food and Agriculture Organization for assisting Zimbabwe boost household food security through a US$70 million input facility targeting smallholder farmers. Briefing the media after a meeting between President Mugabe and FAO director-general Mr Jacques Diouf here on Sunday, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made said the exchanges had been fruitful. "It was a very excellent meeting. His Excellency thanked FAO for assisting us in mobilising some farming inputs for the smallholder farmers under the US$70 million facility that is going to assist over 700, 000 farmers. "It (FAO) mobilised the farming inputs from some non-governmental organizations and was supported by some European Union countries," he said. He said one of the issues raised in the meeting was the need for governments to come up with policies that could be implemented. Minister Made said President Mugabe pointed out that Zimbabwe had dealt with the challenge of declining rainfall by setting up a Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development. "During the meeting with Mr Diouf, we looked at Africa's food security challenges in relation to development of irrigation 17 schemes in order to enhance productivity on farms, support for the smallholder farmers by supplying them with seed, fertilizer and chemicals. "It was agreed that US$65 billion is needed in order to develop water sources in Africa," Minister Made said. Due to climate change, conventional rains are no longer reliable and farmers have to complement them by establishing irrigation schemes. Zimbabwe is one of a few countries on the continent to come up with strategies to boost irrigation capacity through the central bank-driven Farm Mechanisation Programme. The efforts to improve irrigation infrastructure were also designed to recoup losses suffered when some white farmers vandalised equipment when their farms were allocated to new black farmers under the land reform programme. President Mugabe had also told Mr Diouf that Zimbabwe had introduced its own input subsidies, Cde Made said. He said under the subsidy, smallholder farmers would purchase a 50kg bag of fertilizer for US$6,75. "After looking at a number of factors, we have said the smallholder farmers and those in communal areas must buy a 50kg bag of fertilizer for US$6,75 and seed for 51 US cents per kg. He said details on how farmers could access these subsidised inputs would be disclosed shortly. President Mugabe, who is the Head of State and Government as well as Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, will today address other world leaders attending the summit. Afghan minister welcomes start of fruit exports to India Text of report entitled "Pakistan should honour its commitment to improving economic relations with Afghanistan" by privately-owned Afghan newspaper Rah-e Nejat on 14 November Economic group of Rah-e Nejat daily: Finally Afghanistan succeeded to send its first apple shipment to India by an Indian airline from Kabul airport to Delhi after months of struggle last Thursday [12 November]. During a press conference held in this regard, the minister of agriculture, irrigation and livestock said: "This is a historic press conference, because we succeeded to open a new door for Afghanistan's business, and exported the first international standard shipment to India legally." The minister added: "The produce which are being sent to India have been bought from provinces such as Paktia, Wardag and Ghazni and weighs three tonnes." Mr [Mohammad Asef] Rahimi also said: "Nine tonnes of apples have been sent to India via land." Mr Rahimi explained: "Afghan produce were not being exported to India legally so far and we had to make a sanitary certificate for that." He continued: "Processing the sanitary certificate needed minimum 12 months but with the help and contribution of the Indian officials we succeeded to process this certificate in three m onths by doing the (PRA) test." The Indian government has set a condition for the fruit export to this country which is disinfection of the fruits. The minister of agriculture explained: "We will send 75 tonnes of apples to India each week till the end of apple production season which is the end of December. We will try to send 400 tonnes of apples to India by air." According to Mohammad Asef Rahimi, Afghan produce can earn more money if the shipments are exported to India via land. According to the officials of Agriculture Ministry, although the cost of sending Afghan fruits to India by air increases the cost and price of the fruits, but Afghan fruit will have a better market than the Pakistani fruit in India. Afghanistan has faced many problems in expanding its exports especially to India because of the promise-breakings and sabotage by the Pakistani officials during last few years. Afghan exports were extremely affected in a negative way by a 17-per-cent increase in the Pakistani tariffs which took these tariffs to 25 per cent. Rahimi answered the question asked by Rah-e Nejat in this concern saying: "As we all witnessed, Pakistan did not accept our products by increasing its tariffs to 25 per cent, because with the new tariffs ou r farmers are not able to compete with Pakistani local products. The increase in tariffs caused losses to our farmer and our exports to be stopped." The minister of agriculture added: "According to our agreement with Pakistan, this country needs to provide all the facilities to the extension of Afghan exports. Mean while we had some arguments with the government of Pakistan to provide us all the facilities so that we can export our products to the world through Pakistan ." At the end of the press conference the minister of agriculture announced: "Exporting apple to India via air is an example of international joint benefits, and our farmers will benefit from it for years." The minister appreciate the financial support of the USA, activities of Indian officials in this regard and thanked the Turkish government for building greenhouses in Wardag Province and finally the officials of Afghan Agriculture Ministry for their commitment and support. The Indian ambassador and the representative of the American ambassador also joined the Afghan minister in this press conference. Philippines to import 1.4m tons of rice in 2010 th Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) 16 November Manila, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) - The Philippines will import at least 1.4 million tons of rice next year to beef up government stocks and stabilize domestic supply, an official said on Monday. "Our self-sufficiency level is only at 86 per cent," Ludovico J. Jarina, deputy administrator of the state-owned National Food Authority (NFA) told reporters at the sidelines of a pre- bidding conference for rice. Jarina said importing 1.4 million tons of rice will put the government rice stocks at "a very comfortable level." The imports will come in the first half of 2010. The NFA will tender for 1.2 million tons of rice on December and is eyeing to source rice from Thailand, Vietnam, China, Pakistan, Australia, the United States and India. The NFA purchased 250,000 tons of rice Nov. 4. NFA officials, however, said that the 1.4 million tons of rice does not yet take into account the damages in the country's rice sector. Typhoons "Ketsana" and "Parma" flooded rice growing areas in Luzon, northern Philippines and damaged as much as 1.3 million tons of palay (paddy rice). The Philippines is importing its rice as soon as possible to take advantage of good prices, he said, adding that based on the previous tender for 250,000 18 tons of rice, the weighted average price was at 530 US dollars per ton. "We hope that this price will hold until the end of the year," he said. As of Oct. 30, the country's national rice inventory is at 2.38 million tons. The NFA's rice stocks is at 1.1 million tons, which is good for 32 days based on an average daily rice requirement of 36,000 tons. Egyptian president proposes global programme on food crisis Nile News TV, Cairo, in Arabic 1020 gmt 16 Nov 09 Egyptian President Husni Mubarak has called for a global programme for combating the food security crisis. Addressing the World Summit on Food Security in Rome on 16 November, Mubarak said: "We are in need of an international practical programme that handles this issue comprehensively." On the outlines of this programme, Mubarak said the achievement of food security in developing countries should have to do with economic, trade and construction development. "It has also to do with human development, control of overpopulation, and development of education," he said. He urged developed countries to provide "genuine support" for developing countries. He also called for developing the agriculture sector in developing countries in order to boost their economies. In this regard, he urged rich countries to increase their agricultural investment in developing countries, where more than 70 per cent of the population works in the agricultural sector, according to Mubarak. Mubarak said the current risks of food security "pose a direct threat to the lives of millions of people and to a main human right, namely the right to food". "Food shortage threatens the social stability in the developing countries," he warned. He said the world is still far from achieving its goal of cutting the number of the hungry by half. Mubarak said the global economic crunch and the global price rise had contributed to the increase in the number of hungry people around the world. "It is time for us to go beyond the stage of dialogue and take serious and tangible measures to deal with the food security issue on the ground," he said. The Egyptian leader called for paying due attention to combating the climate change. He also called for providing enough finance to the existing international mechanisms and providing food and humanitarian aid for the poor and marginalized people, especially women and children. In this regard, Mubarak recalled the "deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza due to the continued Israeli blockade". Concluding his speech, Mubarak urged the international community to activate its handling of the food crisis. "Let's work for a more humanitarian and fair world that guarantees food for all," he said. Libyan leader proposes solutions to food problems at Rome summit Libyan TV, Tripoli, in Arabic 1007 gmt 16 Nov 09 Libyan leader Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi criticized the world's powers and multi-national companies in his speech at the international summit for food security in Rome. At 1005 gmt, Qatari Al-Jazeera TV aired only three minutes of the Libyan leader's 11-minute speech. The rest of the speech was aired by Libyan TV. Al-Qadhafi said that the world had failed in addressing its food security despite past pledges. "All the previous decisions, compassion, statements and promises have gone with the wind," he said. "This means that we did do not anything in the past. All what was said about eradicating poverty and hunger turned to be incorrect." He then turned to what he called the "colonialists", blaming them for the food problems in Asia, Africa and Latin America. He said: "Europe and the other Imperalists colonized these areas and pillaged their resources, thus turning them into poor people." He added that those countries were "indebted" to the three continents. "The sums that are promised to be paid for these countries in the form of aid from the rich make only a small part of the massive pillage of the Third World resources by the Imperialists". "They have no right to evade paying the debt to its owners," Al-Qadhafi declared. He vowed to keep up the fight for restoring the "usurped" right. He said: "We are neither after pity nor are we beggars. We are demanding a right that was usurped". Al-Qadhafi promised to "continue to chase those who plundered our resources, whether or not they attended this conference, and no matter how long this would take". Turning to armament, Al-Qadhafi said the world's powers should spend part of their military budgets on poverty eradication programmes. "They spend 1.5 trillion [currency unspecified] from the money they plundered on armament in order to continue killing fellow human beings." "Why don't they drop out of the nuclear arms race - and take Libya an example after it scrapped its nuclear bomb programme - to save part of the 1.5 trillion to fight poverty?" He described this as "hypocrisy". He said: "Crying over the poor and spending 1.5 trillion on arms and nuclear arsenals is a contradiction, deception and hypocrisy". Discussing the world's food crisis, Al-Qadhafi proposed making available seeds and protecting small farmers to address shortages. Al-Qadhafi also accused multi-national companies of aggravating the problem. "Devilish international companies began to monopolize seeds in order to control the world food". According to the Libyan leader, this was a "very dangerous issue". Al-Qadhafi advised that the FAO will have to create banks for local seeds in every state and to improve their quality; otherwise this will "turn into a disaster in the future, because food will be controlled by the capitalist companies". He predicted that this "monopoly" might extend to trees and animals. He also criticized what he described as "neo-feudalism", saying it must be "fought and stopped". Explaining his concept, he said that large parts of Africa's rich land are being bought for cheap by foreigners who deprive small African farmers from their land. He called for working on averting an environmental disaster as a result of the drying-up of Chad Lake. He also called for linking the man-made river in Libya with Rive Nile in order to save Africa from water shortages. Al-Qadhafi ended his speech by wishing the attendants good luck, but added over laughter: "and I doubt there is good luck". 19 The wife of the Iranian president addresses the NAM first ladies meeting th Text of report in English by semi-official Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) website 16 November Tehran, 16 November: First ladies of Non-Aligned Movement states conferred the ways to annihilate poverty and hunger across the world in Rome. Also, Iran's first lady Azam Farahi, delivered speech at the meeting held on the sidelines of UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) meeting on food security as below: I thank the Almighty for having the opportunity to participate in this meeting. I am also grateful to the Director General of FAQ Mr Jacques Diouf for proposing one day of fasting in solidarity with people and Mrs Susan Mobarak for her initiative to organize this meeting with an aim to involve effectively the first ladies of the NAM member states in the struggle against food poverty. At present, the international community is burdened with one billion hungry and three billion people suffering from poverty across the globe. The imbalance in food production and consumption is mounting. The current irregularity in the food market has denied the needy sufficient access to appropriate nutrition. The continuation of this situation will undoubtedly result in the expansion of poverty and its dire consequences. Food poverty has imposed a double burden on the shoulders of women in the family. Now the question is that what are the root causes of this dilemma? It is obvious that food stuff in the world is insufficient. Rather, uneven distribution systems, mercantilist attitudes, and exploitation of resources for the purpose of occupation and arms race are responsible for the imposition of poverty on a large section of the world population particularly women and creation of food insecurity. Today, we are in need of a new consumption pattern; we should promote the pattern of needs- based consumption as well as the spirit of collaboration, benefaction and selflessness. Promotion of the culture of labour and management of family by men and provision of the basic rights of women such as their food, clothing and housing and attention to clean and healthy food which from a religious viewpoint are among the measures which help reduce such problems. Here I wish to call on the first ladies of the NAM member states to initiate an appropriate food consumption pattern as a first step in this direction. This will help promote the spirit of solidarity among people and institutionalize such a pattern in the society. I would now like to refer to a number of the Islamic Republic of Iran's experiments -with a religious learning- that have effectively increased the family's food security. 1- Enrichment of food stuff consumed by girls and women by the Government, 2- Food support for expecting and breast feeding moms, so as to rear a healthy generation, 3- Promotion of interest free loans as a correct solution and the establishment of small family, neighbourhood and group interest free loan funds to again promote and fortify the spirit of cooperation and social service, while preserving the d ignity human beings. 4. Establishment of local capacity through the selection and training indigenous facilitators. Now a number of proposals for inclusion in the final statement: 1- Establishment of an independent strong organs to fairly coordinate the food staff market; 2- Establishment of special funds by NAM states to help with the employment and food security of women heads of household; 3- Promotion of international relations and access to the relevant information in the field of agriculture and clear food; 4- Raising public awareness towards further attention and to use clean food and proper consumption; 5- Emphasis on rights of women in the family to the provision of their food, clothing and housing by their husbands; 6- Making every effort in protection of water and ground resources against contaminations. In conclusion, I wish to stipulate that unfortunately our world is presently witnessing a clear example of food and medicine insecurity in the case of besieged Gazans; the innocent people who have incurred blockade against all international rules and regulations. We expect to see immediate end to this great oppression. I call distinguished Mrs Mobarak, as representative of this meeting, to follow up this issue and get the voice of our gathering and oppressed women and children in Gaza across the globe. Wishing for realization of the divine promise for development of justice in the world. Bangladesh sets 2013 food security goal - minister Excerpt from report by Reaz Ahmad headlined "Bangladesh Eyes Food Sufficiency by 2013: Rome Summit Opens Today With World Hitting 1 Billion Hungry People, Highest since '70" published by Bnagladeshi newspaper The Daily Star website on 16 November With the world leaders converging at a three-day World Summit on Food Security in Rome today to give a new momentum to the fight against hunger, Bangladesh commits to eradicate domestic hunger by becoming food self-sufficient by 2013 and making food available to the vulnerable. On the eve of the summit, first of its kind since 2002, food officials in Dhaka told The Daily Star the country's overall food output this year is adequate to meet up the domestic demand. Bangladesh is poised well with over a million tonnes of food stock in reserve now. But obviously there is a question of the ultra-poor's financial capability to access required food. Food Minister Abdur Razzak, a member of the prime ministerial entourage to Rome, told this correspondent the government was moving ahead with the goals of attaining food autarky by 2013 and making food available to the vulnerable segment through widening the food-aided social safety-net programmes. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), host of the Rome summit, states in its annual flagship report "State of Food Insecurity (SOFI) 2009" that every fourth Bangladeshi is severely food-insecure. The World Summit on Food Security is taking place at a time when food security challenge gets bigger with the number of hungry people hitting an all-time high of 1.02 billion since 1970, the earliest year for which comparative statistics are available. Over a decade after the world nations pledging for halving the incidence of hunger by 2015, FAO estimates show, in real terms, the number of hungry people rose by over 150 million from less than 850 million during 1990-92 to over a billion this year. As per FAO statistics for 2009, of the 1.02 billion hungry people, Asia and the Pacific is the home to the largest concentration of 642 million hungry people, followed by Sub-Saharan Africa with 265 million, Latin America and the Caribbean with 53 million, Near East and North Africa 42 million and developed countries sharing a little pie of 15 million only. The 20 Washington-based food policy think tank IFPRI, however, insists people to look at the hunger figure in a different way. Releasing "Millions Fed" -- a compilation of 20 proven successes in agricultural development -- ahead of this week's food summit, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) stated on November 12 that the proportion of the world's population that has remained hungry has declined dramatically. "In the mid-1960s, when the global population was about 3.3 billion, only about 2 billion people were getting enough to eat. Today's population has burgeoned to more than 6 billion and some 5 billion people now have enough food to live a healthy and productive life," states IFPRI that picked up two out of its 20 most exciting success stories from Bangladesh. South Korea seeks cheap land overseas to grow food Text of report in English by South Korean newspaper Chungang Ilbo website on 16 November Local provincial governments are working hard to develop farmland in other countries because it's more cost-effective than relying on imports. Land overseas in the Maritime Province of Russia in East Siberia, Cambodia and the Philippines is large and cheap, officials explain. The latest land deal announced last Monday involves state funding starting next year for [South] Korean companies to buy massive tracts of land in South America. The government said it is considering investing 29.9 billion won ($25.8 million) in Paraguay and Uruguay. In previous agro-deals involving land for agricultural development, primarily in Southeast Asia, the land has been rented. The South Gyeongsang Government Office is promoting development of overseas farm fields under a plan to secure food reserves for the future and protect farmers in Korea against the price surge of imported agricultural products. An 11-member team from the office visited the Maritime Province of Russia for four days to survey land for possible acquisition. "It will be reasonable to build farmland for South Gyeongsang in the Maritime Province since there is unused land there and the local farmers lack farming skills, resources and a labour force," said Jeong Jae-min, 46, head of the Agricultural Support Division at the office, who led the survey squad. "There are 250 hectares [ 617 acres] of land that is capable of farming but only 50 hectares is being cultivated. The government of the Maritime Province said it wants to develop better seeds by adopting advanced farming techniques." During the visit, the team signed a memorandum of understanding with the Maritime Province government in agricultural exchanges and cooperation. Jeong said South Gyeongsang is planning to raise beans and corn by expanding the size of farmland to an additional 50 hectares next year and 3,000 hectares by the end of 2011. He also said South Gyeongsang is considering hiring Koryoin people, or ethnic Korean migrants living in the Maritime Province, to work on the land. Meanwhile Gyeonggi is planning to cultivate 16,000 hectares of farmland in Sulawesi, southeastern Indonesia, for four years if a deal with the Sulawesi government goes through next year. The province expects that the 16,000 hectares of land will produce 320,000 tons of corn annually. In addition, South Jeolla has rented about 94,000 hectares in Mindoro in the Philippines to produce corn. The province established a corporation called Jeonnam Feedstock Ltd. in January this year to manage corn production. The province is also considering advancing into Sulawesi. At least one deal is being handled privately rather than through government. Sixteen livestock farmers in South Chungcheong invested 100 million won each and purchased 474 hectares of land in Kampot, Cambodia, in February this year. They bought the land for around 200 won per 3.3 square meters (35.5 square feet). The farmers said they are going to reclaim hilly land early next year and produce 3,000 tons of corn for the Korean market. Farmers said it's nearly 20 per cent cheaper to grow corn in Cambodia than to buy on the international market. In another deal, the North Gyeongsang provincial government signed a memorandum of understanding for exchanges in agriculture affairs with the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry in Mongolia in July and has since then opened an agricultural development assisting centre in Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia. The centre supports Gaeunpam, an agricultural corporation based in Cheongdo County, North Gyeongsang, aimed at developing 20,000 hectares of farmland for Korean farmers to use in the Bulgan province of Mongolia for the next 40 years. "A number of Korean farmers are seeking new opportunities overseas to take advantage of large and cheap lands since they think it is difficult to raise their profits in Korea due to lack of farmlands and fierce competition," said Lee Ha-yun, an official at North Gyeongsang government office. However, not everyone is happy with Korea's land purchases overseas. The Manila Bulletin reported in August that a Filipino lawmaker and farmer, Rafael Mariano, had called for a probe into a deal between the local governments of Mindoro provinces with Jeonnam Feedstock Ltd., a deal the lawmaker says represents a "new wave of global grabbing" and is "a threat to land rights of farmers and indigenous peoples." Similarly, the chairman of a senate committee in the Philippines on labour issues, Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, has referred to richer nations buying up land in poorer nations for their own food security as "agri-colonialism," according to the Philippines' Daily Tribune in July. "Instead of helping develop these lands for our own farmers' benefit, is the government now in essence selling these prime, productive properties to foreigners?" Estrada was quoted as saying. A land lease in Madagascar involving Daewoo Logistics was called off early this year by the country's self-proclaimed president, Andry Rajoelina, following the ousting of Marc Ravalomanana. North Korean agency optimistic on effort to solve food problem Text of report in English by state-run North Korean news agency KCNA website 14th November DPRK's Effort to Solve Food Problem Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) - Today is the anniversary of the DPRK's entry into the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Since the DPRK was founded over six decades ago, it has made sustained efforts to attain food self-sufficiency. Since its admission to the FAO in juche [juche] 66 (1977) the 21 DPRK has closely cooperated with the organization in its efforts for increasing food and agricultural production on a world- wide scale so as to improve the dietary life and eliminate starvation in each country. Officials of ministries and national institutions did the first Friday-labour for this year on coop fields. To begin with, the coop farms throughout the country registered signal successes in the farming preparations such as producing and transporting compost, carpeting field with humus soil and repairing and readjusting of farm machines. In particular, the continuous on-the-spot guidance of leader Kim Jong Il [Kim Cho'ng-il] to coop farms including the Tongbong Coop Farm in Hamju County, fertilizer and agrochemicals production bases, Wonsan University of Agriculture and others has served as a powerful driving force of the agricultural development. The gasification projects in Namhung Youth Chemical Complex and Hungnam Fertilizer Complex which were visited by the leader show the firm will of the Korean people to solve food problem by themselves without fail by establishing a Juche-oriented fertilizer production method. Thanks to their will, a new agrochemicals production process has been built in the February 8 Vinalon Complex and a gigantic waterway stretched out across the Miru Plain. The Korean people will certainly solve the food problem, the agricultural problem by surmounting the bottlenecks and difficulties lying on the way for increasing grain production and thus make a positive contribution to the building of a new peaceful and prosperous world. Grenada government seeks agriculture assistance from Egypt Text of report by Caribbean Media Corporation news agency website on 12 November St George's, Grenada: The Tillman Thomas administration has sought assistance from the Egyptian government to assist with the development of the local agriculture sector. A government statement said the matter was raised during a meeting with Egypt's Ambassador to Grenada, Ali Saleh Mohamed Mourad, where Prime Minister Thomas laid out a special case for assistance for Grenadian farmers. "We are working to transform Grenada's agricultural sector because it is an area that can generate foreign exchange and employment for our people," Thomas said. The Egyptian envoy said his government was interested in building the island's human resources in agriculture and tourism. The government release said Mourad said it could be "possible" for Grenada along with Egypt, Venezuela and another Caribbean country, to do a project in agriculture and chemical processing. "Both the Prime Minister and the Ambassador agreed that Grenada can benefit from the experience of Egypt in the area of irrigation technology, which is regarded as the best in the world," it said, adding that they also welcomed the opportunity to deepen bilateral relations and strengthen the relationship s between the two countries. "The two men also discussed the preservation of Grenada's historical sites, artefacts and landmarks as part of the enhancement of Grenada's tourism product," the statement said. SAfrica 2009 farm attacks reportedly claimed more lives than war in Afghanistan Text of unattributed report "Farm attacks claim more lives than Afghan war" published by non-profit South African Press Association (SAPA) news agency 12th November Farm attacks in South Africa this year have claimed more lives than the war in Afghanistan, an agricultural organization said in a report on Thursday. A total of 91 British soldiers died this year in the war in Afghanistan, compared to 111 people who were killed in farm attacks in South Africa over the same period, said Chris van Zyl, assistant manager of the Transvaal Landbou Union (TLU). Beeld newspaper reported that over the past eight years, 282 British soldiers died in Afghanistan, quoting numbers provided by the BBC broadcaster. But in just four years, 292 people died in farm attacks in South Africa, said Van Zyl, adding that these numbers were "conservative". Van Zyl said these statistics were given to the TLU by the police, who did not want the organization to make it public. Chinese helping Brunei trial rice strains for self-sufficiency Excerpt from report in English by Brunei newspaper Borneo Bulletin website on 12 November [By James Kon] In pushing forward towards the aspiration of reaching self-sufficiency in rice production and attaining food security for the people of Brunei Darussalam, the government of His Majesty will be putting on trial various rice seeds from China to test their compatibility with the soil and climate of the country in the hope of finding suitable rice seeds for Brunei for mass paddy plantation. A signing ceremony for the cooperation on paddy plantation between Wen Zhong Agro-Science and Technology, Brunei Darussalam and Guangxi Wangwangda Farmers' Company Ltd, People's Republic of China, was held yesterday after the conclusion of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (31st AMAF) meeting. The cooperation involves an area of about 700 ha, which is an extension of Lot Sengkuang paddy field in Mukim Labi, Belait District. This initial phase will involve trials for rice varieties brought in from China and will be conducted during the main paddy-planting season this month. The Phase 2 of the cooperation will be a large-scale paddy planting using the variety that has been identified suitable to be planted in the area. According to a representative from Wen Zhong Agro-Science and Technology, Mr Ang Swee Chuan, he said: "We want to be involved in the project to further enhance Brunei's capabilities in self sufficiency (in rice). We will put on trial at least two rice seed varieties every month to identify which variety is su itable for the soil and weather of Brunei. The Chinese rice that has been brought in is of high quality. The soft and fragrant variety is almost similar to 'Beras Wangi'," he said. The first harvest of the paddy will be somewhere in February next year. To 22 assist in the projects, experts have been brought in from Guangxi Wangwangda Farmers' Company Ltd. [passage omitted] South Korea records bumper rice crop in 2009 th Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap 12 November SEOUL, Nov. 12 (Yonhap) - South Korea's rice production edged up 1.5 per cent on-year in 2009, thanks to record high yields of the staple grain, a government report showed Thursday. Local farmers will harvest 4.91 million tons of rice this year, compared with 4.84 million tons a year earlier, according to the report by Statistics Korea. It said good weather conditions and lack of pest or typhoon damage this year caused average rice yields to shoot up to 534kg per 10 "ares" or one-tenth of a hectare, despite a 1.2 per cent dip in the paddies that grew rice in 2009. The total size of the country's paddies stood at 924,000 hectares this year. A hectare is equivalent to 10,000 square meters. The statistical office said this is the highest yield tallied since the government started announcing rice production data. Last year, 520kg of rice was produced from a 10 ares plot of land. The total that will be harvested is also 234,000 tons more than what was predicted in mid-October. Related to the larger-than-expected harvest, the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said the government will buy up 710,000 tons of rice this year and isolate this from the market to help stabilize rice prices. The total includes the 370,000 tons that the government bought to maintain the country's strategic reserve in case of emergency situations. Rice prices had fallen last month but started to stabilize coming into November after the ministry said it will purchase large quantities of rice. 23
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