Africa: Summit to Debate Soaring Food, Oil Prices

Africa needs to urgently address the issues of soaring food and oil prices and take appropriate measures as they negatively impact on poor households, said African Union Commission Chairman Jean Ping.

“We need to discuss and analyse all possible solutions on these sky-rocketing prices including transport costs which compound food prices,” said Mr Ping while addressing delegates during the official opening of the 13th Ordinary Session of Executive Council of the African Union in Sharm-El-Shaikh on Friday.
Mr Ping said the escalating food prices had raised food production which, in turn, increased demand on bio-fuels.

“We need to find a common solution, especially in the critical food and security area.

“There is a great need for both emergency and long term goals to be put in place with strong policy measures while scaling up our resources in trying to meet this challenge,” said Mr Ping on Friday.

Between 2007 and 2008, food and oil prices have increased by 50 percent and the impact on food production imports remained high resulting in the poor being the hardest hit.

On Thursday, the South African government called on all governments throughout Africa to unite against high fuel prices.

Addressing the media in Pretoria on Thursday after a meeting with stakeholders in the energy sector and representatives from Transnet, Deputy Director General in the Department of Minerals and Energy Nhlanhla Gumede said the government was concerned about the high fuel prices which resulted in even higher food prices.

“It is not something that the South African government can deal with alone, private companies and governments throughout the world must collectively deal with the issue,” he said, adding that government needed partners.

AllAfrica