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ormer UN secretary general Kofi Annan says agriculture policies must be reformed to end hunger, poverty and social unrest.

Annan, who also heads the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), made his comments at the opening day of governing council meeting of the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Rome.

Governments should create national rural networks of retailers and agro-businesses to support farmers, Annan said.

Some of his suggestion to improve the agriculture sector included creative thinking, effective partnerships, leadership from governments and supporting the efforts of small-scale farmers. He also emphasized the importance of investment and loans to farmers.

“While increased ODA [official development assistance] is essential to accelerate the improvements now underway, there are also huge opportunities for local commercial banks and other financial markets,” he said.

Technological advancement in agriculture over the last several decades have voided Thomas Malthus’ predictions of global food scarcity.

Extreme weather and massive urbanization in major food-producing countries, however, have brought the world’s food supply to a worrying state over the last few years.

The Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Food Price Index touched its highest level in January since its launch in 1990.

Indonesia’s annual inflation rose to 7.02 percent from 6.96 percent in January, powered by, among other things, a 16.18 percent spike in food prices.

Surging food prices also fueled the discontent that toppled Tunisia’s president in January — discontent that has spilled over into Egypt, Bahrain, Libya and Yemen. Rising food prices also contributed to the end of Soeharto’s regime in 1998.

The UN’s Messenger of Peace, Princess Haya bint Al Hussein of Jordan, said that there had been more than 60 food riots from 2007 to 2009 from Haiti to Indonesia.

The princess said she was certain there would be continued unrest after the Food Price Index reached its historic high.

“The events in the Middle East have been described as an alarm or wake-up call for the region, but they should be an alarm for the entire world. The Middle East was well-fed when set against the daily suffering in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia,” she said.

Annan said that the recent climate changes that have led to failed harvests meant rising food prices would likely be temporary.

He saw this as a chance to benefit agricultural workers. National governments should adopt health and environmental standards to increase the value of their produce and ensure they could be sold in any market, he said.

“At the same time, the international community must finally provide effective, efficient and equitable market access policies... so that countries can compete on a level playing field,” he said.

Annan said that the policy should include guarding against knee-jerk protectionist responses to rising prices. Priority must be given to stabilizing international supplies and moderating food commodity speculation so that farmers could get a fair price for their products.