World Food Production Catching Up

Chronicle (Levin), 16 June 1949, Page 6

World Food Production Catching Up

— Eeceived Wednesday,. 7 p.m. PARIS, June 15. World food production is.now equal to prewar but the people are eating less individually because there are more mouths to feed, announced United Nations' Food and Agricultural Orgahisation in a survey of the past year. It said North American farmers were becoming anxious at the- nation 's increasing agricultural self-sufficiency but Europe still had to import a considerable quantity of the basic foods. F.A.O. reached these conclusions about the food situation in varions parts: — FAR EAST — Little progress towards increased production. Substantial imports of rice and grains made from the Westefn Hemisphere. INDIA — Food situation deteriorated in the latter half of the year through droughts and no considerable changes in food production in the next year can be for^seen. NEAR EAST — The cost of living in many countries showed signs of levelling off in 1949. Diets were becoming more diversilied but the situation was complicated by the serious problem ot Palestine refugees. AFRICA — Cereals produetions in North Africa in 1948 reached the prewar level but droughts /estricted the live stock recovery. In the Union of South Africa production in 1948 reached record levels for most erops. Wheat production, for the first time in many years, was almost sufficient to meet in temal needs. A record maize crop boosted ' poultry, pork, eggs and dair.\ production but a drought at the turn of the year affected the 1949 maize crop prospects and Those of Rhodesia'-s and Nyassaland. LATIN AMERICA— The total'livestock numbers in the past year have not changed appreciably. Argentine meat production declined. Uruguayan meat production is expected to increase. OCEANIA — Dairy production in New Zealand and Australia continued the recovery • begunin 1947 but a reduction in the pig production of both countries still continues. Mutton and lamb pro- ! duction declined from 1947 by about 5 per cent. but beef and veal production increased by about 6 per -cent. The Australian wheat production whieh suf- ) fered unfavourable weather, amounted to 5,200,000 metric tons. "The eoneumption level remains among the highest in the world. " c UNITED STATES and CANADA — Meat production is lower in the United States, 450,000 live cattle being imported from Canada compared with 70,000 to 90,000 the previous year. Large Canadian exports of livestock products to Britain are declining. EUROPE — The production of erops exceeded that of the previous year by 30 per cent. but food imports remaini cd as high as in 1947-48. The cow | numbers are still below the prewar level . in almost all European countries except Britain. Only in Denmark, France, Bolgium, Ireland and Iceland is the consumption" of meat per head above prewar.