WFP buys sh95b food from Uganda
Jan 27, 2008
THE World Food Programme (WFP) last year bought 210,000 tonnes of grains valued at $55m (about sh95b) in Uganda, making the country the biggest supplier of food to the UN body.
By Sylvia Juuko
THE World Food Programme (WFP) last year bought 210,000 tonnes of grains valued at $55m (about sh95b) in Uganda, making the country the biggest supplier of food to the UN body.
“The Ugandan 2007 food purchase was valued at $55m out of a total of more than $1b WFP spent on food in domestic markets in Africa between 2001 and 2007,†the WFP said in a statement.
The 201,000 tonnes were enough to provide food to 3.4 million people for one year.
The humanitarian agency said over 80% of 2.1 million metric tonnes of food purchased last year was from 69 developing countries from Afghanistan to Zambia. The purchases were valued at more than $760m.
“Local purchases create win-win solutions to hunger.
“In an era of soaring food prices, which hit hardest those already hungry, such solutions are more critical than ever,†the statement quoted Josette Sheeran, the WFP’s executive director, as saying.
The statement added that Sheeran also addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on local procurement and rising food prices.
“We are now not only feeding hungry people, but helping to develop sustainable solutions to hunger,†he said.
Soaring commodity and fuel prices have a major impact on WFP’s ability to deliver food to the hungry, the statement added.
“One way that WFP is able to offset some of these price rises is to buy food on local markets in developing countries, where prices are sometimes lower and which are located closer to areas where WFP distributes food.
“As food prices rise, helping to support local markets and to keep food affordable to the most vulnerable becomes ever more important.â€
According to WFP, most of the food bought in developing countries is distributed either locally, in the same country of purchase, or regionally which keeps transport costs to a minimum.
“The policy is to buy locally when and where there is abundance and avoid local markets at times of scarcity, so as not to distort markets,†Sheeran explained.
WFP has plans to expand its food procurement activities to support sustainable crop production and help address the root causes of hunger.
“WFP will purchase more food directly from low income farmers and farmers’ groups, as a partner in agriculture and market development in countries where WFP has operations.
“This will help reduce the risks farmers face from uncertain markets, boost incomes and encourage investment in technologies and practices which increase and improve food production,†the organisation stated.
“Buying ‘local’ helps provide more income for small-scale farmers, while saving money for WFP,†Sheeran noted.
THE World Food Programme (WFP) last year bought 210,000 tonnes of grains valued at $55m (about sh95b) in Uganda, making the country the biggest supplier of food to the UN body.
“The Ugandan 2007 food purchase was valued at $55m out of a total of more than $1b WFP spent on food in domestic markets in Africa between 2001 and 2007,†the WFP said in a statement.
The 201,000 tonnes were enough to provide food to 3.4 million people for one year.
The humanitarian agency said over 80% of 2.1 million metric tonnes of food purchased last year was from 69 developing countries from Afghanistan to Zambia. The purchases were valued at more than $760m.
“Local purchases create win-win solutions to hunger.
“In an era of soaring food prices, which hit hardest those already hungry, such solutions are more critical than ever,†the statement quoted Josette Sheeran, the WFP’s executive director, as saying.
The statement added that Sheeran also addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on local procurement and rising food prices.
“We are now not only feeding hungry people, but helping to develop sustainable solutions to hunger,†he said.
Soaring commodity and fuel prices have a major impact on WFP’s ability to deliver food to the hungry, the statement added.
“One way that WFP is able to offset some of these price rises is to buy food on local markets in developing countries, where prices are sometimes lower and which are located closer to areas where WFP distributes food.
“As food prices rise, helping to support local markets and to keep food affordable to the most vulnerable becomes ever more important.â€
According to WFP, most of the food bought in developing countries is distributed either locally, in the same country of purchase, or regionally which keeps transport costs to a minimum.
“The policy is to buy locally when and where there is abundance and avoid local markets at times of scarcity, so as not to distort markets,†Sheeran explained.
WFP has plans to expand its food procurement activities to support sustainable crop production and help address the root causes of hunger.
“WFP will purchase more food directly from low income farmers and farmers’ groups, as a partner in agriculture and market development in countries where WFP has operations.
“This will help reduce the risks farmers face from uncertain markets, boost incomes and encourage investment in technologies and practices which increase and improve food production,†the organisation stated.
“Buying ‘local’ helps provide more income for small-scale farmers, while saving money for WFP,†Sheeran noted.