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Mozambique government reverses food hikes that sparked riots
Olivier De Schutter
Governments around the world have been urged to respond quickly to renewed instability on international food markets. The call from the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Olivier De Schutter follows an increase in the price of bread in Mozambique which sparked three days of riots. Thirteen people died and 400 people were arrested during the riots last week. The government has since pledged to return to the previous price by introducing a subsidy. Mozambique grows only 30 percent of its wheat needs and has to import the remainder. Alpha Diallo asked Olivier De Schutter how whether the latest food crisis is as bad as what the world experienced in 2008.
Duration: 2'43"
De Schutter: We are in a situation which is extremely worrying. The speculators on the commodity markets began betting on highest prices for the next few months leading to prices increasing very rapidly and this puts poor, food-deficit countries in an extremely difficult situation since their food bills increase very rapidly and they experience balance of payment problems, and what I find particularly unacceptable is that we have seen it all happen already, we knew which measures should be taken, and nothing has been done over the past two years.
Diallo: But at the same time you are calling government and the international community to respond promptly.
De Schutter: I think a number of studies have been made, a number of pledges have been made, but very few of these studies have translated into political decisions, and very little of the funding promised has been actually been delivered by the donors. So this is a very unacceptable situation. Nobody seems to be held accountable for this failure to act, and so I now believe that in the next few weeks decisions should be taken, not more studies, not more pledges without follow-up.
Diallo: And Russia decided to ban grain export and there is speculation also on the world cereal market. Do you fear a new world food crisis?
De Schutter: Well there is a new world food crisis and the question is how long it would last for, and how damaging its impacts will be. I think that if the governments together send a strong message that they will not begin speculating by hoarding grains and by banning exports, and if they send a strong signal that they will not allow speculators to disrupt the markets, then the worst can be avoided, and the crisis can be a short one. But there is no time to lose and it is hoped that by the end of this month very firm signals will be given by the governments on this issue.
Diallo: You and saying there is no time to lose but where is the food system failing?
De Schutter: The food system is failing because many poor countries are depending on the international food markets for their security. West African countries for example import volumes of wheat and rice which the populations are not producing and they have been misled. They have been encouraged not to develop their agricultural production for domestic consumption, and instead to produce cash crops for exports making them extremely vulnerable in a situation such as this one. So, I think the food system is not strong enough, not resilient enough to this kind of shock, and the inability of governments to act against speculation is only making things worse.
PRES: Aplha Dianllo speaking to the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Olivier De Shutter.
