Global Food Price Rises Finance Facility Proposed to Help Farmers in Developing Countries

摘要

The European Commission (EC) has proposed to establish a special "facility for a rapid response to soaring food prices in developing countries". The fund would be worth 1 billion euros and would operate over 2008 and 2009. This money would be in addition to existing development funds and will be taken from unused money from the EU's agricultural budget. It would be provided to the developing countries which are most in need, based on a set of objective criteria. The facility would give priority to supply side measures, improving access to farm inputs such as fertilisers and seeds, possibly through a credit scheme and to safety introduce measures aimed at improving the productive capacity in the agricultural sector.