Rising Global Food Prices

The facts
Lately I have been deeply concerned over the rising of global food prices.
Did you know that the poor in many developed countries spend up to 75 per cent of their income on food, a situation which puts them in precarious conditions.
According to a recent World Bank report, the increase in global wheat prices reached 181 per cent over the 36 months leading up to last February, while overall global food prices increased by 83 per cent. According to the report, food crop prices are expected to remain high throughout this year and 2009 and then begin to decline, can you imagine?
Let me tell you about the everyday struggle of people from Sénégal, West africa. Here are some facts:
*The gaz price is killing the pocket of every senegalese driver, the price has more than double in 7 years, from around 300F CFA ($0,70) in 2000 it has increased to almost 800F CFA ($1,80)
* The price of a bag of rice was around 9000F CFA ($20) it has increased to almost 18000F CFA ($40), now keep in mind that rice is eaten at every lunch and for some families even for breakfast as pudding (Sombi in Wollof).
Can you imagine having to think of daily how to feed your family, where to get the money to pay your transport or for those who owned a car how much to put in your gaz tank, how to pay your children school fees or your own if you are still in the University (which is in constant strike), how and where to get money to buy your medecine. Basically where to get the money to feed you family or how to pay your basic healthcare or shelter.
For those Living in the States and in Europe we all know that the price of gasoline have risen (currently they are paying the most)."In the US and Europe over the last year we've been focused on the prices of gasoline at the pump at $2.50, then $3.00, $3.50 and much more ( yes my people from California will agree with me on this one, riight?).
While many worry about filling their gas tanks, many others around the world are struggling to fill their stomachs. And it's getting more and more difficult every day."Let me give you just two examples:"In just two months, rice prices have skyrocketed to near historical levels, rising by around 75% globally and more in some markets - with more likely to come. With little margin for survival, rising prices too often means fewer meals."Or take wheat, where in the past year the price has risen by 120%. That means that the price of a loaf of bread has more than doubled.

The solution
For the immediate crisis, the International Community said that they must fill at least $500 million food gap identified by the UN's WFP ( World food program) to meet emergency needs. Governments should be able to come up with this assistance.
We need to expand and improve access to safety net programmes, such as cash transfers, and risk management instruments to protect the poor.
We need to increase financial support for short-term needs, restructuring existing projects and fast-tracking grants and loans where needed.
We must make agriculture a priority. The Mundial Bank has announced it will double agriculture lending for sub-Saharan Africa over the next year from $450 million to $800 million.

My last word
This is not just about meals forgone today, or about increasing social unrest, it is about lost learning potential for children and adults in the future, stunted intellectual and physical growth.

Let's face it this a growing matter so we need to address this not just as an immediate emergency but also in the medium term.)