The food gospel according to Ahmadinejad

posted Thursday 5th June, 2008

by Soni Daniel



He seemed serious. His voice rose as he addressed the World Food Summit in Rome on Tuesday. Many didn't think it was necessary for Mahmud Ahmadinejad to show up for obvious reasons: his country is not facing an imminent threat of food shortages.

According the CIA World Fact book, the Iranian agricultural sector, which accounts for 11% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is under threat. The economy is also bolstered by a strong productive sector that generates 45.3% of the GDP and has driven unemployment down to 11% and the percentage of those living below poverty line to about 18%.

Perhaps this bright outlook gave the Iranian strongman the impetus to speak with confidence, as he mounted the podium to address world leaders on the worsening global food situation.

With a tone like that of a man sympathetic to the plight of the poor, Ahmadinejad tried to prick the conscience of the world by asserting that only those with humanistic values, love and care should be saddled with the responsibility of leadership.

Although he did not overtly throw his famous caustic verbal attacks on Israel and the U.S, Ahmadinejad made some insinuations by blaming the food crisis on what he calls "the supplying of expenditures of wars and occupations by big powers at the expense of poor nations".

"It is very clear, that hidden and unhidden hands are at work to control the prices and mendaciously to pursue their political and economic aims," he added without naming the hand behind the manipulations in the world food market.

As a way out, he wants the UN to set up an independent body to regulate the production and consumption of food as well as the issue of tariffs and subsidies on agricultural produce.

Beyond that, the Iranian leader would want to see the UN compel those he refers to as ‘bullying powers" to resort to peace instead of occupation and warmongering, and to spend their military funds on reforming the agricultural sector so as to make food available to the poor around the world.

Ahmadinejad's formula may not strike the right cord in the minds of those who drive the global development agenda at Davos or Washington, but it deserves a trial. Whether he is seen as a rebel or a tyrant because of his defiant stance on building a controversial nuclear plant, the proposal he has put forward for improving world food supply may needs a go.