Rays of hope disappear behind economic black clouds

摘要

The present financial and economic crises are already impacting on employment and the well-being of farmers who had just caught a glimpse of hope of leaving poverty when the prices of their crops hit record highs last year. Some predicted that from 2000 to 2030, to meet projected demand, cereal production will have to increase by nearly 50% and meat production by 85%. Add to this the burgeoning demand for agricultural feedstocks for biofuels and suddenly farmers thought they were finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel of previously depressed prices.rnIn the tobacco sector, 2008 was a positive year for producing countries, especially India and Malawi which, in the face of dwindling world stocks, were able to greatly increase their production and secure top prices for their crops.