World food prices rise to near two-year high in January - UN FAO

World food prices rise to near two-year high in January - UN FAO

Feb 2 World food prices rose to a near two-year high in January, driven by surges(बढ़ता है) in sugar quotations and export prices for cereals (अनाज) and vegetable oils(वनस्पति तेल,) the United Nations food agency said on Thursday. The Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) food price index, which measures monthly changes for a basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat and sugar, averaged 173.8 points in January, versus a revised 170.2 in December.  The 2.1 percent monthly rise pushed (धकेल दिया) food prices on international markets to their highest since February 2015, and 16.4 percent above their levels in January last year. global cereals output is now expected to reach 2.592 billion tonnes in the 2016-17 season, confirming (पुष्टि) prospects of a record harvest, FAO said.

About FAO

Achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAO's efforts – to make sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. 

Our three main goals are: the eradication(उन्मूलन) of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition(कुपोषण); the elimination of poverty and the driving forward of economic and social progress for all; and, the sustainable management and utilization of natural resources, including land, water, air, climate and genetic resources for the benefit of present and future generations.