Latest news with #UnitedNations'FoodandAgricultureOrganization
Rudaw Net
2 days ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iraq facing worst drought in over 90 years: UN
Also in Iraq Iraq denies oil smuggling after US sanctions Iran-linked network Flights to resume at Mosul airport in 2 months after 11-year hiatus Iraq says 'committed' to receiving 230,000 barrels of oil daily from KRG KRG delegation in Baghdad for salary talks after oil export deal A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq is experiencing its worst drought since 1933, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative said on Saturday. Farmland available for cultivation has been halved and rural families are being driven from their homes. The entire region has been affected by drought, but Iraq is bearing the brunt of the crisis, Salah Haj told Rudaw's Bakhtiar Aziz. 'Iraq's preparations and infrastructure are not adequate considering these challenges. The negative effects first hit the wetlands, where the drying rate has reached over 70 percent - a very dangerous level,' he said. Sandstorms have worsened the situation for buffalo herders, many of whom have left their villages as wetlands shrink. Farmland cultivation has also dropped by half, forcing farmers to seek livelihoods elsewhere. Haj urged Iraq to modernize its irrigation systems, water storage, and planting methods to conserve water and called for a substantial budget and targeted programs to combat drought and desertification. FAO is working with the federal and Kurdistan Regional governments on water projects, including restoring a water-sensing system in Erbil to optimize irrigation times. Haj said the Kurdistan Region's situation is better than the rest of Iraq's. Iraq's water crisis is caused by reduced precipitation, rising temperatures, and mismanagement. The lack of a comprehensive water-sharing agreement with neighbors Turkey and Iran, who have built dams on shared rivers, has deepened the crisis. More than 17,000 families have left Iraq's southern provinces over the past decade due to drought and desertification, Ali Abbas, spokesperson for the Migration and Displaced Ministry, said in July.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
World food prices at 2-year high on rising meat and edible oils, FAO says
PARIS, Aug 8 (Reuters) - World food commodity prices rose in July to their highest in over two years, as a jump for vegetable oils and record levels for meat outweighed falling cereal, dairy and sugar prices, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization said. The FAO Food Price Index, opens new tab, which serves as a global benchmark for food commodity prices, averaged 130.1 points in July, a 1.6% increase from June, FAO said. That was the highest reading since February 2023, though the index was 18.8% below its peak of March 2022, which followed Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. FAO's meat price index hit a new all-time high of 127.3 points, up 1.2% from its previous peak in June, as strong import demand from China and the United States boosted beef and sheep meat prices, the agency said. U.S. beef imports have climbed after drought led to a decline in the domestic cattle herd. China shipped in record amounts of beef last year amid growing popularity of the meat, though an official probe into imported beef has raised uncertainty about Chinese demand. In other meat markets, poultry prices rose slightly following the resumption of imports of Brazilian chicken by major buyers after Brazil regained its avian influenza-free status following action against a first farm-level outbreak. In contrast, pig meat prices declined due to sufficient supplies and lower demand, particularly in the European Union, FAO added. The agency's vegetable oil index surged to 166.8 points, up 7.1% month-on-month and the highest level in three years. This increase was driven by higher quotations for palm, soy, and sunflower oils due to robust global demand and tightening supplies, though rapeseed oil prices fell as new-crop supplies arrived in Europe, FAO said. FAO's cereal price benchmark eased to its lowest in almost five years, reflecting seasonal supply pressure from wheat harvests in the Northern Hemisphere. Its separate rice index dropped 1.8% last month, driven by ample export supplies and weak import demand. Dairy prices edged down for the first time since April 2024, with declines for butter and milk powders offsetting further gains for cheese. FAO's sugar price index eased for a fifth consecutive month on expectations of increased production in Brazil and India, despite indications of recovering global sugar import demand, the agency said. FAO did not update its cereal supply and demand, opens new tab estimates this month.
Morocco World
3 days ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Global Food Prices Rise to Highest Level in Over Two Years
Food commodity prices around the world rose in July, hitting their highest point in more than two years. This surge came as vegetable oils spiked and meat prices reached record levels, outweighing declines in cereals, dairy, and sugar, according to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks international food commodity prices, averaged 130.1 points last month, a 1.6% rise from June and the highest since early 2023. While this marks a notable rebound, the index remains almost 19% below its peak following the sharp disruptions caused by the war in Ukraine in 2022. Meat prices drove much of the increase. The FAO's meat price index reached an all-time high at 127.3 points in July. In Morocco, for instance, with drought and rising feed costs reducing national livestock, the North African country increased meat imports to stabilize supply and prices. In July, meat prices increased by 4%, while fish and seafood prices rose by 3.9%. Vegetable oils posted the largest monthly jump, with prices for palm, soy, and sunflower oils climbing amid tight global supplies and sustained demand. Rapeseed oil prices, however, eased with the arrival of new European harvests. At the same time, cereal prices eased to their lowest in nearly five years as Northern Hemisphere wheat harvests added seasonal supply. Rice prices declined by 1.8%, pressured by ample export stocks and weak buying interest. Dairy prices slipped slightly, driven by lower butter and milk powder costs that offset modest gains for cheese. Sugar prices continued their decline for the fifth straight month, despite some signs of renewed import demand, weighed down by expected higher output in Brazil and India. Morocco offers a clear example of the real-world impact behind these figures. The country has faced sharp inflation in staple food prices over recent months, making everyday essentials more expensive for consumers. Rising costs for vegetable oils and meat, key components of Moroccan diets, have especially strained household wallets. While global cereal prices have eased, Morocco's heavy reliance on imports means fluctuations and transport costs keep local prices high. Overall, the July data depict a food market still shaped by complex forces, climate conditions, geopolitical tensions, and shifting consumption patterns that directly affect countries like Morocco and millions of people worldwide. Tags: droughtFAOfood pricesinflationMorocco food prices
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
World food prices at 2-year high on rising meat and edible oils, FAO says
PARIS: World food commodity prices rose in July to their highest in over two years, as a jump for vegetable oils and record levels for meat outweighed falling cereal, dairy and sugar prices, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization said. The FAO Food Price Index, which serves as a global benchmark for food commodity prices, averaged 130.1 points in July, a 1.6% increase from June, FAO said. That was the highest reading since February 2023, though the index was 18.8% below its peak of March 2022, which followed Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. FAO's meat price index hit a new all-time high of 127.3 points, up 1.2% from its previous peak in June, as strong import demand from China and the United States boosted beef and sheep meat prices, the agency said. U.S. beef imports have climbed after drought led to a decline in the domestic cattle herd. China shipped in record amounts of beef last year amid growing popularity of the meat, though an official probe into imported beef has raised uncertainty about Chinese demand. In other meat markets, poultry prices rose slightly following the resumption of imports of Brazilian chicken by major buyers after Brazil regained its avian influenza-free status following action against a first farm-level outbreak. In contrast, pig meat prices declined due to sufficient supplies and lower demand, particularly in the European Union, FAO added. The agency's vegetable oil index surged to 166.8 points, up 7.1% month-on-month and the highest level in three years. This increase was driven by higher quotations for palm, soy, and sunflower oils due to robust global demand and tightening supplies, though rapeseed oil prices fell as new-crop supplies arrived in Europe, FAO said. FAO's cereal price benchmark eased to its lowest in almost five years, reflecting seasonal supply pressure from wheat harvests in the Northern Hemisphere. Its separate rice index dropped 1.8% last month, driven by ample export supplies and weak import demand. Dairy prices edged down for the first time since April 2024, with declines for butter and milk powders offsetting further gains for cheese. FAO's sugar price index eased for a fifth consecutive month on expectations of increased production in Brazil and India, despite indications of recovering global sugar import demand, the agency said.
Arab News
29-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
China expresses interest in investing in seed development, precision farming in Pakistan, ministry says
KARACHI: A high-powered Chinese delegation has expressed 'keen interest' in making investments in seed development, precision farming, smart irrigation systems and agro-processing in Pakistan, the Pakistani national food security ministry said on Tuesday. The Chinese delegation, comprising senior officials, agricultural scientists, and private sector representatives, met with National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain to explore enhanced cooperation in the field of agriculture. The two sides discussed joint strategies to modernize Pakistan's agricultural sector and to initiate collaborative efforts in research, innovation and investment, with the delegation highlighting China's agricultural advancements and willingness to transfer expertise. 'Through collaboration with China, Pakistan can introduce scientific research, climate-resilient practices, and modern technology that will uplift the productivity of local farmers and ensure long-term food security,' Hussain told the Chinese delegates, stressing the urgent need to formalize agreements between Pakistani and Chinese agricultural institutions. The agriculture sector contributes nearly a quarter of Pakistan's gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 37 percent of the national labor force, according to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization. However, a fast-growing population, climate change and poor resource management have greatly impacted Pakistan's crops in recent years, prompting officials to ponder alternative ways to enhance production. Pakistan also decided in June last year to send nearly 1,000 graduates to China to train in methods and techniques to enhance Pakistani agricultural production. Of them, around 300 Pakistani graduates this month completed training in water-saving irrigation, seed production, animal husbandry, agriculture production and prevention of post-harvest losses in China's Shaanxi province. During Tuesday's meeting with Chinese delegates, Hussain proposed signing multiple memorandums of understanding (MoUs) focusing on joint research in areas such as biotechnology, crop improvement, pest control and sustainable agricultural practices, according to the national food security ministry. He also underscored the importance of establishing long-term frameworks for the exchange of scientists, technical training, and capacity-building initiatives to strengthen Pakistan's agricultural institutions. 'Hussain noted that this partnership must go beyond investment and move toward structured collaboration in research and development,' the ministry said. 'The Chinese delegation appreciated the Minister's strategic vision and assured full support from their government and private sector to contribute to Pakistan's agricultural transformation… The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to elevate the Pakistan-China partnership in agriculture to a new level, ensuring tangible outcomes in the coming months through structured planning and implementation.'
