United Nations General Assembly Resolution 27

by the UN General Assembly

27. World Shortage of Cereals

The damage caused by war and the dislocation of agricultural production resulting from the shortage and dislocation of labor, the removal of draught animals, the shortage of fertilizers and other circumstances connected with the war have caused a serious fall in world production of wheat. In addition, a large number of countries, including some of those which are normally the largest producers of grain, have suffered serious droughts and have therefore reaped abnormally small crops. The supply of rice is also so short as to threaten a famine in certain areas. There is, moreover, a serious risk of grain production in the coming season being insufficient to prevent continuing hunger. For these reasons the world is faced with conditions which may cause widespread suffering and death and consequently set back all plans for reconstruction.

The General Assembly therefore:

1. Urges all governments and peoples to take immediate and drastic action, both directly and through the international organizations concerned, to conserve supplies, by securing adequate collection of crops from the producers, by saving food and avoiding waste, and to ensure the maximum production of grain in the coming season;

2. Notes that several of the United Nations have recently announced measures to reserve grain supplies for direct human consumption and to secure increased production;

3. Urges all governments to publish as full information as possible regarding their own supplies and requirements of cereals and the steps they have taken or are prepared to take to achieve the objectives expressed in paragraph 1;

4. Requests the international organizations concerned with food and agriculture to publish full information in their possession on the world food position and the future outlook, and to intensify efforts to obtain as full information as possible on this subject, in order to assist governments in determining their short term and long term agricultural policy.

Thirty-third plenary meeting, 14 February 1946.