UN General Assembly
2008

where my people live just a couple of metres above sea level. The mining of phosphate on Nauru has left large pinnacle rocks covering 80 per cent of the island, which prevents agriculture and contributes to desertification and drought. Although we place a high priority on the production of nutritious traditional staples, arable land is just too scarce to achieve a sustainable level of food security. The Secretary-General stated in his address yesterday (see ) that at this time last year rice cost $330 a ton and that today it is now $730. Nauru is paying nearly double that. Our imported rice costs us $1,340 a ton. Rice and other staples are simply becoming unaffordable. Without urgent attention to our region, it is estimated that an additional 5 per cent of our people will slip into poverty because of high food prices. 08-51839 20 We need the world to increase food production. That requires investment in training and in implementing appropriate farming techniques, together with efficient seed and fertilizer distribution. We also need increased access to food. That includes reviewing