Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, has called for an increase in agricultural production to feed the hungry in Africa. Speaking in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, Mr. Annan stated that Africa must improve its irrigation and transportation networks. He urged African countries to modify their agricultural systems with genetic changes to harvest more crops. The UN Secretary-General also outlined his plan to halve the number of hungry people by 2015. Mr. Annan's remarks come as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has warned that a locust invasion may soon affect a large part of Africa, causing significant damage to agricultural products. In the last locust invasion of the continent, which lasted from 1987 to 1989, farmers suffered a loss of $300 million.
Kofi Annan Calls for Increased Agricultural Production in Africa - 2004-07-06
Kofi Annan has called for increased agricultural production in Africa to address hunger, emphasizing the need for improved irrigation and transportation. He also highlighted the potential threat of a locust invasion that could severely impact agriculture. This is significant as it underscores the ongoing challenges of food security in Africa.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Kofi Annan called for increased agricultural production in Africa to combat hunger and proposed improvements in irrigation and transportation. He warned of an impending locust invasion that could damage crops significantly.
- Annan aims to halve the number of hungry people in Africa by 2015.
- A previous locust invasion caused $300 million in losses to farmers.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Food security remains a critical issue in Africa, exacerbated by climate change and natural disasters like locust invasions. Improving agricultural practices is essential for sustainable development.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%