RESOLUTION

US President George Bush has once again made himself exposed by shamelessly attributing current global food crisis to the so-called increases in consumption of food articles in India and China. Bush is famous for his irresponsible and idiotic remarks ever since assuming Presidentship. But the present case is a concerted effort by the USA and the European Union to mask the real cause for the crisis which is inevitable in the era of globalisation. Speculative trading in food grain and large scale shift of agricultural production from food article to Bio-fuel in the advanced Western countries characterizes the severe most global food crises in the present era. At the same time Bush, through his statement, has virtually admitted that the level of prosperity in the West mainly depends upon the impoverishment and malnutrition of the developing world.

Let us first look at some hard facts:

Per capital consumption of grain per year is 1046 kg. in the USA compared to 178 kg. in India.

Per capita consumption of poultry is 45.4 kg. in USA and 1.9 kg. in India.

78% of Indians live on less than Rs.20.00 per day. Between 1997 and 2005, 136324 farmers in India have committed suicide.

Per capita consumption of cereals has declined from 468 gms. In 1990-91 to 412 gm. In 2005-06 and that of Pulses from 42 gms in 1990-91 to 33 gms. In 2005-06.

50% of children and 78% of pregnant mothers suffer from malnutrition.

The global wave of food price inflation has reached such a stage that to distribute the same amount of food-aid to the poor countries as in the last year, an additional amount of $ 700 million would be required .

If unlike the Iraqis or Afgans or Iranians or Cubans, we believe in Bush is statement that Indians are consuming more food then its impact would be felt by the global agricultural economy if Indian exports are of any significance to the global market. But in reality India’s share in the total world export in merely one percent of which agricultural products contribute less than 12%! So Indian consumption pattern has no impact on global food crisis.

Thus the global food grain crisis is caused by the Farm Policy of the USA and European Union who control the global food market.

The entire growth of global maize production is diverted to bio fuel and the increased production of 51 million tones between 2004 &2005 was entirely absorbed by the USA for ethanol production;

The EU has declared that by2010, nearly 6% of fuel would be biofuel which means their production pattern will be changed drastically.

To fill up an average tank with bio-fuel, the amount of maize required is equivalent to the per capita annual human consumption as staple diet.

The other aspect is speculative trading. In order to allow them to make super-profit the Govt. must abandon its stock as well as mechanism to distribute food grain at affordable price. This has allowed the private trade to accumulate huge stock in order to keep the prices high. This is happening in India and other countries in the era of liberalization. But Bush is not satisfied. To protect the speculative international finance capital. Bush & Co. has diverted the world attention by blaming the consumption patterns of the Indians and the Chinese.

In a country like India, where 83.6 crores people (NSS 2004-05) spend less than Rs.20.00 per day, Food Security can be achieved through an Universal Public Distribution System supported by a system of public procurement of foodgrains and proper foodgrain allocation to the states. The common minimum progamme of the UPA government also promised to work out a comprehensive strategy for food & nutrition security. But in actual practice what has been done.

Reduction in food subsidy in real terms (3.5% increase in the backdrop of 7% inflation).

Far from strengthening the PDS, Central allocation of wheat & rice to the states have been reduced by137.6 lakh tones.

The targeted PDS system has excluded 70.5% of rural households, 52% of agricultural workers’ households, 60.7% of rural SC households and 55.4% of tribal households.

Thus the Indian government has choosen the neo-liberal path of abandoning the universal food and nutrition security and has decided to leave the people to the mercy of speculative future trading and uncontrolled price inflation.

The 21st Annual General Meeting of FOSET condemn the assertions made by Bush & Co. and strongly protest against this imperialist arrogance. The Delegates of the21st AGM urge upon the Indian Government for universalition of Public Distribution System and to curb speculative trading on agriculture.

The AGM also demand a rational policy on Future Trading based on people’s interest and to keep the essential commodities as well as all basic food items outside its perview.

Regarding Bio-fuel, while endorsing its necessity in view of the severe energy crisis, the AGM demands a rational policy on Bio-fuel maintaining the hierarchy of food first, then feed for livestock and lastly fuel.