Problem Of Feeding Growing World Population

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31121, 26 July 1966, Page 15

Problem Of Feeding Growing World Population

"The Press" Special Service

WELLINGTON, July 26. The “stark facts’* of the world’s population doubling by the year 2000, and starvation and famine facing large portions of mankind, were emphasised at the annual conference of Federated Farmers of New Zealand.

Mr E. W. McCallum, in his presidential address, instanced Latin America as one part of

the world where the

losing race between food production and rising population was most acuate—in spite of all national and international assistance programmes. World food and population trends were among those “events beyond the farm gate" emphasised by Mr McCullum in his address. It was estimated, he said, that 10 to 15 per cent of the world's 3200 million people were under-nourished, and up to 50 per cent improperly fed. “This state of affairs is bad enough, but the future looks even worse," he said. “By the year 2000—only 34 years away—experts estimate that the world's population will be | at least twice that of today. I “If New Zealand is to playi its full part in helping solve the great food problem of the; world, then it behoves every one of us on our own farms to do his utmost,” Mr McCullum said.

Dr. Sen, director-general of 1

the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, had warned that human freedom and dignity might not survive until the year 2000, unless the nations immediately faced the challenge of human hunger and soaring populations. Dr. Sen believed, said Mr McCullum, that the state of the world by that time would depend on measures taken—or neglected—by member nations during the next 10 years, when “heroic efforts” would be necessary if large portions of mankind were not to be faced with starvation and famine. Dr. Sen believed that human freedom and dignity could survive if four things were achieved: First, if a doubling of the actual rate of annual increase In food supplies could be maintained over a long period. Second, if family planning were accepted and practised on a wide scale In the rural 1 communities of developing I countries. j Third, if the food production of developed countries could be fully utilised, and surpluses distributed to the best advantage. Fourth, if international cooperation were strengthened to achieve those ends.

The claim was, said Mr McCallum, that if there was a possible answer to these four “ifs,” then no-one need go hungry in the year 2000. The only alternative, Dr. Sen had said, was that mankind would again be overtaken by the old “correctives” of famine, pestilence, and war. “This is straight talking by the man who holds the world’s top executive post in agriculture, and I suggest we should heed his warnings,” Mr McCallum said. Of New Zealand’s £260,000

contribution to the World Food Programme in 1966-1968, about half would be in the form of milk powder, said Mr McCallum;

"I am sure you will agree with mewhen Isay that New Zealand could have done much better,” he said. “If we had pledged gifts of primary produce to the value of the foreign exchange we have misspent in importing machinery for Industries of very doubtful economic value, I am certain we would have helped ourselves in several ways, and assisted the less fortunate peoples In the developing countries.” Mr McCallum also criticised the Government’s reluctance to give Colombo Plan and other aid In the form of food supplies instead of cash. “I believe there is a good case for New Zealand offering some of its aid in kind, and I think it is time that we, as producers, insisted on this point in our discussions with the Government,” he said.