2011 World Food Day - Food Prices, from Crisis to Stability

Abstract

The World Food Day (WFD) is an annual event organized by the FAO- UN on October 16th and is mainly organized to address global food issues. This year the Vanuatu WFD was commemorated on Luganville, Santo. It is usually celebrated in Port Vila, and agreed to be celebrated by a province annually due to its limited budget allocation. During its annual events, there is a theme to address Food crises. In the last decade world prices for staple food prices, have continued to fluctuate and increase a s a contributing factor to poverty. Hence, this year’s theme is “Food prices – from crisis to stability” has been chosen, and what can be done to combat the impacts. Swinging prices for market commodity is a global issue that is affecting and threatening the livelihood of Vanuatu families with the already present issues of population pressure, climate change, in appropriate policy making. Food pricing involves two different kinds of measures. The first group addresses volatility itself, aiming to reduce price swings through specific interventions while the other seeks to mitigate the negative effects of price swings on countries and individuals. Countries are finding ways to mitigate the crises by having emergency food reserves; increasing more and better information systems; assisting with inputs of fertilizers and seeds. Governments avoid price fluctuation by making financial arrangements to buy foods/ at a set price; while some international organization facilitates finance to b alance payment problems of the soaring food prices. In Vanuatu and other developing countries where Agriculture production is the main livelihood for the productive sector, it was agreed that we need to emphasis more on increasing quantity of production, to reduce price and combat hunger, with the national theme “Yumi Mas Planem Moa Kakae, Taonem Praes Blong No Hangre”