The Detroit Tribune

FOOD FOR WORLD'S HUNGRY—Dr. E. B. Evans, president of Prairie View, Texas A. and M. College, is shown presiding over the second plenary session of the World Food Forum last week in Washington, D. C. With him are two of the speakers: Dr. Frank W. Notestein, left, president of the Population Council; and Dr. Egbert de Vries, rector, Institute of Social Studies, The Netherlands. The Forum inaugurated the centennial observance of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Speakers emphasized the production of more food for the world's hungry through accelerated economic growth of developing countries. - USDA Photo

World Food Forum Suggests A Guideline For Africa And Other Developing Areas

Agricultural production guidelines to economic growth in African countries and other developing areas were emphasized last week here in Washington by speakers at the three-day World Food Forum which inaugurated the centennial observance of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Speakers who included in their talks a discussion of the importance of agriculture in developing countries were Oris V. Wells, Assistant Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Dr. Frank W. Notestein, president of the Population Council, Dr. Egbert de Vries, rector, Institute of Social Studies, the Netherlands; and Dr. Willard W. Cochrane, director of Agricultural Economics of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. The latter three appeared on the second plenary session which was presided over by E. B. Evans, president of Prairie View, Texas A. and M. College. "Adequate, efficiently produced supplies of food and agricultural raw materials," said Assistant FAO Director-General Wells, "are an essential base or pre-condition for economic growth and development." Continuing, he pointed out that in the development of a country, agriculture must perform five major functions: (1) Supply food and agricultural raw materials for an increasing population. (2) release workers for nonfarm jobs. (3) supply foreign exchange and domestic revenue. (4) provide a base for manufacturing and service industries and (5) help control inflation by increasing food production and keeping its price moderate. Taking a long look at population growth in the world, Dr. Notestein predicted a population rise from the present 2,996,000,000 to a very close seven billion by the year 2000.