Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
World food prices hit record high: UN agency
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Top Stories
Most Popular
Photos
Full Coverage
Sitemap
World food prices hit record high: UN agency
AFP - Friday, February 4
Send
IM Story
Print
World food prices hit record high: UN agency
ROME (AFP) - – World food prices reached their highest level ever recorded in January and are set to keep rising for months, the UN food agency said on Thursday, warning that the hardest-hit countries could face turmoil.
Rising food prices have been cited among the driving forces behind recent popular revolts in north Africa, including the uprising in Egypt and the toppling of Tunisia's long-time president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
And in its latest survey, the Food and Agriculture Organisation said its index which monitors monthly price changes for a variety of staples averaged 231 points in January -- the highest level since records began in 1990.
"The new figures clearly show that the upward pressure on world food prices is not abating. These high prices are likely to persist in the months to come," FAO economist and grains expert Abdolreza Abbassian said in a statement.
The Index rose by 3.4 percent from December -- with big increases in particular for dairy, cereal and oil prices. The rises were most significant in China, India, Indonesia and Russia, data from FAO's monthly report showed.
"There are a lot of factors that could spark turmoil in countries and food is one of them," Abbassian said, pointing out however that several countries have become better at managing prices after a series of riots in 2007 and 2008.
"They have learnt from previous episodes," he said, adding however: "These are obviously not very easy times. There is now no hope that prices will return to anything we can consider normal, at least until the summer."
The data from the Rome-based FAO showed that prices for dairy products rose by 6.2 percent from December, oils and fats gained 5.6 percent, while cereals went up by 3.0 percent because of lower global supply of wheat and maize.
"The increase in prices follows stronger export demand during the last month and concerns about tightening supplies of high quality wheat. The market was also supported by higher oil prices and a weaker US dollar," FAO said.
Meat prices remained broadly stable due to a fall in prices in Europe caused by last month's scare over dioxin poisoning in eggs and pork in Germany, compensated by a slight increase in export prices from Brazil and the US.
"High food prices are of major concern especially for low-income food deficit countries that may face problems in financing food imports and for poor households which spend a large share of their income on food," Abbassian said.
Global aid agency Oxfam said: "Millions of people's lives are at risk."
"Poor people in developing countries spend between 50 and 80 percent of their income on food, making higher prices, as well as unpredictable prices, a serious threat to their ability to eat," Oxfam said in a statement.
Oxfam blamed the price rises on reduced production due to bad weather, increased oil prices making fertilizer and transport more expensive, increased demand for biofuels, export restrictions and financial speculation.
It called on governments to implement social protection programmes for the people hardest hit by the price rises and to help control prices "by increasing support and investments in small scale agriculture."
The FAO data showed the Food Price Index hit 200 points over the whole of 2008 at the height of the 2007/2008 food crisis. It breached that level for the first time in October 2010 with 205 points.
In Africa, Somalia has been particularly hard hit by a rise in prices for red sorghum and maize due to a poor 2010 crop, while Uganda has seen a rise in the price of maize because of strong demand from neighbouring countries.
Meanwhile ongoing unrest in Ivory Coast had helped push up prices in West Africa as a whole because of its status as a key transport hub, it said.
But the most dramatic rises were seen in Asia and in particular in Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia and China, it added.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
News Search
Top Stories
Amazon's double dry spell worries scientists
Bernanke: 'Strengthened' US recovery still lacks jobs
Egypt govt takes initiative to calm popular revolt
ECB holds key lending rate steady
Astronomers discover six planets
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
US golfer Woods finds old habits hard to shake
Russia loses military satellite: reports
US auto sales jump 17 percent in January
Dow closes over 12,000 for first time since June 2008
Egypt's Mubarak to step down at September election
More Most Viewed »
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Entertainment
Photos
Yahoo! News Network
Copyright © 2011 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Friday, 4 February 2011 Corrected
Berlusconi wins brief respite from sex scandals
Verizon gets some iPhone customer complaints
Bernanke: 'Strengthened' US recovery still lacks jobs
UN launches new anti-piracy drive
Vodafone accuses Egyptian government of co-opting network
Egypt govt takes initiative to calm popular revolt
EU waives Iran visa ban, but Tehran stays silent
ECB holds key lending rate steady
Pro- and anti-Mubarak groups skirmish in Cairo
Algeria promises more freedoms to avert protests
|
Astronomers discover six planets
Fitch downgrades Egypt debt rating
World food prices hit record high: UN agency
Israeli official sees cyber alternative to "ugly" war
Suspected gas explosions at Turkish plant kill 10
|
US-TECH Summary
Tunisia replaces regional governors
|
Iraqis protest power and food shortages; 3 shot
Egypt's prime minister apologises for violence
Three bombs kill at least six in Iraq's Ramadi
|
Iran could make nuclear weapon in 1-2 years-IISS
Denmark finds cartoonist attacker guilty of terror
|
Mubarak supporters break through Cairo buffer zone
Filipino furniture designer a Hollywood hit
Kazakhstan on top at winter Asiad
Myanmar junta party 'sweeps presidential race'
N. Korea's Kim attends New Year concert
Developed world must lead on climate change: India
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Nepal elects new PM after seven-month deadlock
Mick Jagger to perform at Grammys for first time
Indian ex-minister held in police custody
ISS backs call for Apple CEO succession plan
|
Big dig-out follows widespread U.S. winter storm
"Last Tango in Paris" star Schneider dies
Oil price shoots above $103 on Egypt crisis
German state mulls burqa ban for civil servants
Internet addresses depletion reflects wired world
|
Mammoth storm leaves bitter cold, destruction
Israeli official sees cyber alternative to ugly war
|
Mazda swings into red in third quarter
German aristocrats scoop millions for seized treasures
Horses bring relief in rough Mexico City neighborhood
Vodafone accuses Egypt government of co-opting network
|
Softbank profit jumps on robust iPhone demand
Barbie's Ken turns 50, gets Facebook and Twitter makeover
Hitachi quarterly profit surges
Scientists make nanosheets with high-tech potential
|
Filipino furniture designer a Hollywood hit
Senate panel backs patent overhaul bill
|
Asia drives 2010 Swiss trade
Apple's iPad boosts FT online subscriptions
|
As art market booms, some see the risk of bust
Pakistani stocks up; rupee weakens; o/n rates flat
EU lawmakers seek stricter rules for electronic waste
|
Microsoft taps USD high-grade market with $2.25 billion deal
|
Pakistan's forex reserves rise to record $17.38 bln
Mick Jagger to perform at Grammys for first time
|
Internet address warehouse empty
US-TECH Summary
Israeli official sees cyber alternative to "ugly" war
Canada minister says Internet billing ruling flawed
New York Times net profit dips 26 percent
Nigerian jailed for Facebook insult of governor
Verizon gets some iPhone customer complaints
Vodafone accuses Egyptian government of co-opting network
Answers.com to be taken private for $127 million
New books describe storms behind WikiLeaks scenes
Dutch government seeks return of hanged woman's body from Iran
Russia's ruling duo 'at odds' over bomb attack case
Eurozone bailout fund to get more powers: report
Internet addresses depletion reflects wired world
Egyptians brace for new anti-Mubarak rally
|
Amazon's double dry spell worries scientists
Lively community takes shape behind Cairo barricades
Cultural shift behind Italian women's thinning
'Tsunami' of obesity worldwide: study
Food costs at records as U.N. warns of volatile era
|
Suspected gas explosions at Turkish plant kill 12
US accuses 10 sports websites of piracy links
Physical exercise helps keeps cancer at bay: WHO
Canada vows no limits on Internet downloads
Mubarak fears Egypt chaos if steps down: report
Kazakhstan to hold presidential election on April 3
|
Haiti sets revised presidency runoff
|
Apple's iPad boosts FT online subscriptions
U.S. intel warned on Egypt instability at end-2010
Microsoft sells $2.25 billion of debt at low rates
Berlusconi passes tax changes, ignoring parliament
|
Egyptians brace for new anti-Mubarak rally
Journalists attacked and detained in Egypt protests
Hackers train sights on Yemen after Egypt
Lively community takes shape behind Cairo barricades
|
Kenneth Cole dressed down for Egypt "tweet"
Myanmar's new parliament appoints Thein Sein president
|
ISS backs call for Apple CEO succession plan
Myanmar set to name president: source
Dutch government seeks return of hanged woman's body from Iran
|
Luxury watchmakers follow the money to Asia
All-seeing eyes
Journalists detail on Twitter media attacks in Egypt
Future prospects
Actress cast for TV film about British royal wedding
Italian maestro Muti faints at Chicago rehearsal
US discussing plan for Mubarak to quit now: NYT
Roosters, be vigilant
Black Eyed Peas set to bring sport anthems to Super Bowl
Minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius
Design study done for Southeast Asian trading link
"Idol" hopeful Schulz released album as a teen
The year ahead
Hobbit director Jackson leaves hospital
Hill, Hynde ready for "chaotic" Super Bowl telecast
Verizon may curb heavy iPhone data users
|
Australian rescuers battle to reach cyclone towns
Jagger to perform at Grammys show
US troops join rescue in flood-hit Philippines
Internet addresses depletion reflects wired world
|
Troops prepare to aid Australia's cyclone relief
Journalists detail on Twitter media attacks in Egypt
|
Myanmar likely to pick junta's PM as president
Calpers seeking majority vote for Apple board
|
China stealth-jet firm eyes US contracts: report
Pakistan cenbank to sell T-bills in 6-day repo
Prius loses Japan top spot for first time in 20 months
Australia lets Thai oil firm stay despite spill
Pakistan
Sharp, Taiwan's Chimei to partner on LCDs: report
NZ new car registrations rise in January
Honda Fit beats Toyota Prius to top Japan
NZ migration gains higher in December
China property taxes a stab at dousing inflation
Hobbit director Jackson leaves hospital
|
Idol hopeful Schulz released album as a teen
|
Black Eyed Peas set to bring sport anthems to Super Bowl
|
Journalists detail on Twitter media attacks in Egypt
|
Hill, Hynde ready for chaotic Super Bowl telecast
|
Huge crowds turn out for Mubarak 'departure day'
Bank of Spain estimates economy shrank 0.1%
Danish cartoonist's attacker jailed nine years
Egypt defence minister visits Cairo square-source
Malawi to debate public farting ban
Police beat Sudanese at short-lived protest: witnesses
|
Europe faces flak on Arab policy as summit opens
Pans and condoms star in anti-Berlusconi protests
|
Few regrets in ex-US defense chief's memoir
Al Qaeda kidnaps Italian tourist in Algeria
|
Bomb explodes near Afghan police chief's house
Russian defense chief visits isles claimed by Japan
|
US pushing for Mubarak to go now: report
France, FAO see food crisis risk as prices soar
|
U.S. discussing transition plan with Egyptians
U.S. discussing with Egypt ways of moving to transition
Cuba to free two more political prisoners
|
Fired Renault exec seeks answers from justice minister
|
Quake of 6.4 magnitude rocks eastern India
|
Tandja ally heads into Niger presidential run-off
|
Thai, Cambodian troops in deadly clash near temple
Pakistan cricketers charged with corruption
Cambodian, Thai troops clash near disputed temple
Australia PM Gillard battens down for disaster fallout
Calls to lift Myanmar sanctions face challenges
Thai, Cambodian troops clash near disputed border area
World food prices reach record high
Thai telcos in legal tussle
Indonesia raises key interest rate
Verizon halts iPhone sales after best first day
|
As ties warm, US mounts India business push
Foreigners nabbed in Thailand's huge drug busts
Iran says Stuxnet claims need investigating
|
Scientists make nanosheets with high-tech potential
|
Bank Indonesia rises interest rate to 6.75 percent
COMMENTARY: Key element missing in Thailand's 'coup plot'
Cisco to buy digital video firm Inlet for $95 million
|
BBC defends Top Gear jokes about Mexico
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights