US foodgrain intake growth exceeds India’s

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New Delhi, May 5: Destroying the claims of President George Bush, UN body FAO's data show foodgrain consumption by Americans has grown at a much faster rate during 2007-08 than just about 2% by Indians and the Chinese.

Growth in the cereal consumption in the US was the highest in the world in 2007-08, according to the Global Food Market Report of the Food and Agricultural Organisation. The foodgrain consumption in the US is estimated to have increased to 310.4 million tonne in 2007-08 from 277.6 million tonne in the previous year, showing 11.81 % jump.

In contrast, the consumption in India is estimated to have grown by mere 2.17% to 197.3 mt from 193.1 mt. In China the growth was 1.8% to 389.1 mt from the previous 382.2 mt. The growth in foodgrain consumption is quite low in China and India, compared to the scorching pace at which their economies have been expanding. The Chinese economy has consistently been growing at 10-11% while India has average over 8.5% GDP growth for the last four years.

“Worldwide there is increasing demand. There turns out to be prosperity in developing world, which is good...In other words, the more prosperous the world is, the more opport-unity there is.”

“It also, however, increases demand. So, for example, just as an interesting thought for you, there are 350 million people in India who are classified as middle class. That's bigger than America. Their middle class is larger than our entire population,” Bush had said triggering protests by major Indian political parties, including the Congress, the BJP and the Left.

Foodgrain consumption in several developing countries like the Phillipines, Pakistan, Kazakhstan and Turkey have declined, the FAO report said.

During his visit to India last month, FAO director-general Jacques Diouf had said besides increasing demand from China and India, diversion of foodgrains towards production of bio-fuels is also contributing to the rising commodity prices across the world.

Over 100 mt cereals are estimated to have been diverted for bio-fuel production in the US and the quantity is likely to increase 12-fold by 2017.