By Taddeo Bwambale

ACTIONAID, an international anti-poverty agency, has urged the G8 countries to commit funds for agriculture to address the high child and maternal mortality rate in poor countries.

Last year, leaders of the world’s eight richest countries, dubbed the G8, pledged $20b (sh45 trillion) for food security in developing nations.

However, ActionAid claims the leaders have been secretive about the release of the funds. This was based on research on agricultural funding to poor countries from the G8 in 2008.

The agency also claims that where the funds were provided, the money was diverted to other projects.

“ActionAid has released new evidence that the G8 has been using the desperately needed money to carry out dubious projects that include patrol boats in Nicaragua, bio fuel production in South Africa and bird flu control, despite promises at last year’s G8 to mount ‘decisive action to free the world from hunger’, said in a statement released recently.

They urged the G8 to come up with a clear plan at this year’s summit to ensure that the money is used to increase food production.

The 36th G8 summit is taking place at the Deerhurst Resort in Canada, where world leaders are expected to discuss the global food crisis.

Anne Jellema, ActionAid’s policy and campaign director, appealed to the G8 to support women’s food production initiatives in poor countries, adding that this would ensure their children are well fed, boost their income and improve access to health services.

“Preventing deaths among children and mothers will take more than doctors and nurses. Healthy mothers and babies must have enough good quality food,” she said.

According to the World Food Programme, one in nearly six people does not get enough food to be healthy, while over one billion people globally are undernourished.