Iran Worried About Status of Food Security in Developing World

June 17, 1999 - 0:0
ROME The head of the Iranian representative delegation to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) here Tuesday said as long as food security in developing countries is concerned, the status quo and future prospect i Agriculture Ministry Deputy for Planning and Budget Abdolali Sabbagh said in a report at FAO headquarters that food production rate in the world has been reduced to the lowest possible level since 1991. He said per capita food product has dropped by one percent as compared to 1993, adding that since 60 percent of the products are manufactured in countries which import foodstuff, this reduction will have a negative impact on food security in those countr Sabbagh said the remarkable fall in the price of agricultural products and raw materials since 1997 and predictions for continuation of the status quo in future, calls for further vigilance on the part of the developing nations.

He added that the five pe However, he said, there are promising horizons such as the 2.3 percent rise in the production of foodstuff in 1994-98 period, adding that production growth in developing countries has been much higher than in developed states. Elsewhere in his speech, Sabbagh said that in the light of sound planning, compatibility of proper technology and constructive social environment on the part of developing countries and technical cooperation of FAO, further technical achievements will be Underlining the significance of Iranian agriculture as an important sector of the country's economy, Sabbagh said having a share of 25 of the gross national product and 25 percent of employment, the Iranian agriculture sector meets 75 percent of the food He termed as outstanding per capita production of foodstuff in Iran in the decade ending to 1997, adding that as a result the per capita energy consumption increased from 2,600 to 3,000 calorie which is higher than international nutrition standards.

He said cultivation of wheat, rice and cereals which are considered as the main grains in nutrition, shows a growth of 5.1, 6.9 and 6.8 percent respectively for the said period. He said the self-sufficiency indices in 1996 for wheat, rice and sugar stood at 72.5, 65.5 and 40 percent respectively, adding that the figures registered for livestock and fishery products were between 90 to 100 percent.

The Deputy Agriculture Minister announced that in an effort to support vulnerable masses, Iran has established a food security network which spends astronomical amounts of subsidies in such fields as foodstuff, energy, health and education which also cov The 116th FAO council meeting convened in Rome on Monday to discuss the framework of policies for the organization in 2000-2015 period, sketching a long-term strategy for future.

(IRNA)