MALEMA, Mozambique, April 29 (Reuters) - Mozambique's president said on Tuesday the country would be hard hit by global food price rises if it does not boost agricultural output. "Mozambique will not be spared by the food crisis, food prices are on the hike as well as fuel prices, we must start producing food now," said Armando Guebuza, on a tour of poor areas of the southern African country. "This crisis will hit us hard and we should be not caught off guard." The United Nations has warned that millions of people are threatened by hunger around the world because of the recent surge in food prices, which has sparked food riots in several African countries, Indonesia and Haiti. Increased food demand from rapidly developing nations such as China, the use of crops for biofuels, global stocks at 25-year lows and market speculation are all blamed for pushing prices of staples like wheat, maize and rice to record highs. Mozambique will need to import at least 1.25 million tonnes of maize, wheat and rice by August to cover food shortages caused by floods since February, government officials say. At least 150,000 people in the country were in urgent need of food aid after severe floods in the centre of the country. Mozambique has already faced unrest over living costs. At least six people were killed in protests that erupted in February over high fuel prices and other costs. The government agreed to cut the price of diesel fuel for minibus taxis. (Reporting by Charles Mangwiro; Editing by Michael Georgy) michael.georgy@reuters.com; +27 11 775 3168; Reuters Messaging:michael.georgy.reuters.com@reuters.net)) (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://africa.reuters.com/)
Virgin Amazon rainforest is seen bordering an area of hundreds of hectares of farmland that was jungle until recently, destroyed for lumber, farming and cattle raising, in Mato Grosso State, one ...
