Urges govts to shore up programs to protect their most vulnerable populations

World food prices jumped 10 percent in July as drought parched crop lands in the United States and Eastern Europe, the World Bank said in a statement urging governments to shore up programs that protect their most vulnerable populations. From June to July, corn and wheat prices rose by 25 percent each, soybean prices by 17 percent, and only rice prices went down, by 4 percent, the World Bank said on Thursday.

The drought parching the United States is one of the worst in the nation's history, but it hasn't been as destructive as the drought that may have withered ancient Egypt's Old Kingdom.

Karnataka, that had sought Rs 11,600 crore assistance from the Centre for drought relief, is still waiting for the amount it asked.

Deputy Chief Minister K S Eswarappa said here in Mysore on Tuesday that the Centre has so far released Rs 700 crore. The Centre would be asked to release more funds. A team led by the chief minister would visit Delhi for the purpose. Three Central teams have so far visited Karnataka to study the drought situation.

Americans are throwing away 40 percent of food in the U.S., the equivalent of $165 billion in uneaten food each year, according to a new analysis by the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Leaders of a fledgling U.N.

Failure of the monsoons has wreaked havoc in the lives of farmers in the Cauvery delta

Their Children Have Dropped Out Of School In Many Villages

Rajkot: A native of Sinchor village in Pavi-Jetpur taluka of Vadodara district Kiran Nayak (16) enrolled himself in Ambardi village high school in Gondal taluka of Rajkot this year as his family has been living here for the last five years. His father Bhima Nayak hoped that Kiran would get good education along with employment. However, fate has something else in store for him.

With the monsoon not showing any signs of improvement, the Maharashtra government on Wednesday declared 123 talukas in the State as drought-hit.

The decision was taken here during a meeting of the Cabinet. The meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, especially focused on the setting up of fodder camps in the affected villages. Officials said the State Relief and Rehabilitation Department identified the drought-hit areas according to norms stipulated in the Drought Prone Areas Programme.

Farmers from Africa to India struggle with insufficient rainfall

As farmers from Africa to India struggle with insufficient rainfall, the U.N. has sought consolidated efforts to combat climate change threat and counter its effects on global food security. “Climate change is projected to increase the frequency, intensity, and duration of droughts, with impacts on many sectors, in particular food, water, and energy,” warned World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Secretary-General Michel Jarraud.

Two U.S.