If no action is taken, food prices will continue to soar Two days ago, at the CORAM grocery store in Koudougou, a lady turned to me and asked: ”Father, how could it possibly be that the price of one litre of cooking oil has gone up from 800 CFA francs to 1200 in just a couple of months?”
Good question ! The escalation of food prices (cereal, milk, vegetable oil) is staggering and world-wide. The three main reasons for this are: 1. Bad weather conditions in some regions have resulted in scarce harvests. 2. Arable land is increasingly used for bio-fuel production. 3. World population continues to increase. Urbanisation and higher living standards in India and China have accelerated the demand for quality food. In the light of this situation, what do European leaders do? They have adopted three important emergency measures: 1. Abolition of the milk quotas, which means taking away the limits that had been enforced in milk production. 2. Abolition of the set aside rules to leave land on fallow and instead reopening all farm land for cultivation. 3. Reduction of import duties on products in shortage. These measures will put a break on rising food prices in Europe. What about this part of the world? 1. Since the Government divested itself of the agricultural sector, the country continues to produce crops not being used here (cotton) and to consume food grown elsewhere (discarded Thai rice, fit for the garbage bin only ,and the like). At the present state of play in the world, this choice of production line and the dependence on food from abroad will lead us into ruin! Let us wake up! 2. Moreover, in growing Bt cotton (genetically modified), we shall become entirely dependent on one single multinational for seeds and inputs. The difficult negotiations under way at present to decide the price for these, show the extent to which the American Monsanto is determined to squeeze a maximum profit out of Bt cotton in Burkina. Thus, with Bt cotton we are growing something which we do not use and we are also producing it at our own risk, for the benefit of a foreign multinational. Let us wake up! 3. The Ministry of Agriculture has just signed a contract with a company called AgroEd stating “The AgroEd company is to receive support from the Government in the acquisition of land for the setting up of an industrial unit for bio-fuel production.” The land will therefore no longer be available for food crops, but will fall into the hands of business companies for the sole aim of profit … and, on top of it all, bearing the rubber stamp of “fight against poverty” on it! Let us wake up! We must urgently demand of our political leaders that they put into practice a resolute and genuine agricultural policy. We must grow more cereals (millet, maize) and make more milk products. We must find alternative crops for the cotton fields … farmers are prepared to grow sesame, soy, fruit and vegetables, which sell well. We must ensure food sovereignty. And not just by mentioning it in ceremonial speeches or promising it during election campaigns. Only with this in mind can we hope to come out less painfully of the storms and gales that are looming over the world prices on food markets. Otherwise, as I said to the lady at the grocery store, “if nothing is done, food will go up even more and quite a lot, because when there is a shortage, there is no limit to price levels.” Koudougou, January 29th, 2007 Father Jacques Lacour (
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