UN General Assembly
1974

108. The present shortage has led to a tripling in the cost of corn and other grains, thus placing them beyond the means of the least favored nations. Indeed, in 1973, the developing countries received only 5 million tons of grain from the developed countries, as against 10 million tons in 1972. Those same developing countries had to spend $10 billion in 1973 to import their grain, as compared with $4 billion in 1972. 109. The World Food Conference offers the desired framework for the search for appropriate solutions to cope with the shortage and the production slow-down. 110. The substantial increase in food production in the developing countries requires action in four fundamental directions: increased investment, the avail-ability of loans, research on adaptation to new conditions, and rural development. But it is the developed countries that must provide the extra measure of indispensable technical and financial assistance.