I was astonished when the fact came to my knowledge that, the poorest of the poor spends not less than 60% to 100% of their earnings on the food alone. These data assume a greater significance when the food price increases. The surplus earnings towards health and other necessities become less, leading to an unhealthy life. The lack of policy to curtail the food price has resulted in such bad situation in many under developed countries.

When the world food price started rising, the nutritional quality of the food consumed by the poor also came down as disclosed by the Food and Agricultural Organization. The exorbitant food price also lead to the food riot in about 30 countries. The volatility in the food price is exploited by the traders and hoarders, further adding agony to the poor.

It is a paradoxical situation that, despite the record production of food grains in many countries during 2008 and 2009, the price level is found to be significantly high above 2007 level. In the absence of concerted approach by the global leaders to the food price issue, the concern for the recurrence still remain in the minds of many like me

Added to the this, many countries with surplus food started stock piling the same, duly blocking the export so that, the price rises due to demand and supply mismatch in various countries. This has resulted in the purchasing of farm lands by various Gulf states and South Korea to produce the needed food instead of depending on import. On a humanitarian approach, the nations should come together to help the needy and contain the rising food prices in the future.