INDIA: The issue of rising food prices has assumed new dimensions with US President George W Bush starting a blame-game with India.

He said: “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. And when you start getting wealth, you start demanding better nutrition and better food, and so demand is high, and that causes the price to go up".

However, it has found no takers.

Vrinda Karat, Leader, Communist Party of India, New Delhi, said: "This is really a reflection of an imperial mentality that India should starve, so that George W Bush's agenda can be completed. Actually, the main reason for the current shortage of food in the world market because America has diverted much of it's land for bio-diesel and there has been a huge drop in maze and corn production which is hitting hard in all those countries which depends upon that."

Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Spokesperson for the Ruling Congress Party, New Delhi, said: "An American consumes ten times more than what an Indian does, it's even double than a European. It is a country where people consume much more than they actually need. So, they have no right to blame any country of over-consuming. In fact, there are many other reasons for price-rise. And as far as I know, India is a net exporter, not a net importer of food grain."

In the United States, per capita consumption in the last four years has grown by a whopping 100 kilograms, while in India, it has remained static.

According to a global survey, Americans consume 25 per cent of the planet's resources but contributes only 5 per cent.

The situation becomes worse since half the food in the US isn't eaten, which means they waste food worth US$43 billion.

And experts said their food cycle has been hit in trying to fulfil their energy demands.

India's wheat crop is estimated to touch 76 million tones this year, passing the previous year's harvest of 75 million.

With nearly zero import of food grain in its trade basket, it means that India is still not in a position to influence global food prices.

Dr Amit Mitra, Director General, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry, New Delhi, said: "US's production of wheat has fallen by 16 per cent, Australia's 46 per cent. Same is the case for course grain in the world. In Australia, five times, the monsoon failed and water became an issue. So as far as global food prices is concerned, India is a very small player. We don't export food as much."

The spread of the concept of consumerism is partly to blame - but some embrace it more than others.

According to the US Department for Agriculture, an American citizen consumes 1,046 kilograms of food-grain annually in comparison with an Indian who eats just 178 kilograms.

Likewise, the milk consumption per person in the USA is 78 kilograms vis-à-vis just 36 kilograms in India. Each American consumes about 45 kilograms of meat every year, which is 23 times more than what an Indian eats in a whole year. - CNA/vm