WFP Making Inroads on Alleviating Hunger

　　A senior Official at the World Food Program says a pilot project in 21 developing countries, including 15 in Sub-Saharan Africa, to alleviate hunger is showing promising results. In an exclusive interview with VOA, WFP Deputy Executive Director Sheila Sisulu, says the farmers' associations involved in the project are starting to profit from the sale of their produce.

　　The World Food Program says the issue of food insecurity has become more complex and tackling food emergencies also has become more complex.

　　WFP says recent food crises have been triggered as much by high fuel and high food prices as by drought. It notes food shortages continue to be a problem in many parts of the world. But, very often, it notes food is available in the markets, but people cannot afford to buy it.

　　WFP Deputy Executive Director Sheila Sisulu is responsible for the office of hunger solutions. She tells VOA that a year ago, WFP began a pilot project, which uses the agency's purchasing power to encourage small-holder farmers to grow more.

　　"We work with small producers who are mainly women by purchasing from their associations food and commodities that we distribute within the country or within the region," said Sisulu.

　　Sisulu says WFP uses the expertise of the Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Fund for Agricultural Development to advise the farmers on the best seed and fertilizers to use. They also teach them about the quality standards they must meet to be able to sell their produce to WFP.

　　"By focusing on those small holder farmers, we hope to break the cycle of these farmers selling cheap after harvest and buying dear during the lean season," she said. "When their produce is more and is of high quality, they sell more and they sell high. And, when they have to buy during the lean season, they actually have more in store, but they can afford to buy if they need to."

　　The World Food Program tends to purchase food from local producers. This past year, WFP spent almost $400-million buying food and services in Sub-Saharan Africa.

　　Sisulu says for now, WFP is the main buyer of the goods produced by the farmers participating in the pilot project. But, she says the aim is to help them find other markets as well.

　　"The view is that we can assist them to build up their standards and, we have seen in some cases, that we cease to become their principle buyer because then their produce can go to East Africa if they meet the standards of the East Africa Trade requirements," said Sisulu. "And if it is a farmer in Uganda, they have access to that market or a farmer in South Africa, they have access to that market because now they can meet those standards."

　　The pilot project is being funded by an $80-million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Howard Buffet Foundation. It will run for five years. Sisulu says it is likely to be expanded at that time, if the current project proves to be successful.

　　世界粮食计划署一名高级官员称，在21个发展中国家，包括15个撒哈拉以南非洲国家的用于缓解饥饿问题的试点项目取得了满意效果。在VOA独家专访中，世界粮食计划署副执行干事西苏庐(Ms. Sheila Sisulu)称，试点项目中包括的农民联合会开始从产品销售中获利。

　　世界粮食计划署表示，粮食安全问题日益复杂，解决粮食紧缺问题的工作也日益艰巨。

　　世界粮食计划署说，最近的粮食危机一方面是因为干旱，另一方面是由于燃料和食品价格上涨。该机构指出，在世界许多地区，粮食短缺仍然是一个严重问题。但是，通常情况下，市场上有食品供应，而人们无力购买。

　　世界粮食计划署副执行干事西苏庐(Ms. Sheila Sisulu)是饥饿解决方案办公室的负责人。她告诉VOA，一年前，WFP(世界粮食计划署)开始了试点项目，利用该机构的购买力来鼓励小种植户农民种植更多作物。

　　“我们与小生产者合作，其中主要是妇女，我们从他们的农民联合会购买食品和商品，然后在他们本国家和本地区内部进行分配。”西苏庐说。

　　西苏庐说，世界粮食计划署利用粮农组织和国际农业发展基金的专门技术为农民提供建议，购买最好的种子和肥料。专家还教授农民将产品出售给WFP所需要满足的质量标准。

　　“通过集中在小生产户农民，我们希望打破农民丰收后粮食出售价格低廉，歉收后购买价格高昂的恶性循环。”她说，“随着他们的产量越来越高，质量越来越高，他们出售的就越多，出售价格也越高。而在歉收季节购买时，他们也有了更多的粮食储备，如果需要，他们也有钱来购买。”

　　WFP倾向于从当地生产者手中购买食品。过去的一年，WFP花费4亿美元向撒哈拉以南非洲购买食品和服务。

　　西苏庐说，目前，WFP是参与试点项目的农民产品的主要买主。但是，她说，该项目的主要目标是帮助他们寻找其他市场。

　　“我们的目标是帮助他们建立自己的产品标准，在一些例子中我们见到，一旦我们停止购买，如果他们的产品能够满足东非贸易的要求，他们的产品也可以进入东非市场。如果这个农民在乌干达，或者在南非，他们的产品都能进入东非市场，因为现在他们的产品能够达到标准。”

　　该试点项目由比尔与梅林达·盖茨基金会( Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) 霍华德·巴菲特基金会(Howard Buffett Foundation)提供的8000万美元拨款资助。该项目将持续五年时间。西苏庐说，如果目前的项目能够取得成功，届时将会把时间延长。

　　1.pilot adj.试验性的; 引导的

　　例句：This is a pilot edition of a new language course.

　　这是一种新语言教程的试用版。

　　2.alleviate vt.减轻, 缓解, 缓和

　　例句：The doctor gave her an injection to alleviate the pain.

　　医生给她注射以减轻疼痛。

　　3.promising adj.有希望的, 有前途的,有出息的

　　例句：We have found a promising iron deposit.

　　我们已经发现了一个有开采价值的铁矿床。

　　The results of the experiments are very promising.

　　实验的结果充满了希望。

　　4.exclusive adj.专用的; 独家的

　　例句：This bathroom is for the President's exclusive use.

　　这间浴室是总统专用的。

　　5.profit vt.vi.获益; 得到好处; 得利(益)于

　　例句：Taking these courses profited him.

　　选修这些课程对他有好处。

　　He hoped to profit from his investments.

　　他希望从投资中获利。

　　6.complex adj.复杂的, 难懂的

　　例句：He had not a particularly complex mind.

　　他的头脑并不十分复杂。

　　7.trigger vt.引发, 引起(连锁反应)

　　例句：The incident triggered an armed clash.

　　这起事件触发了一场武装冲突。

　　8.distribute vt.分配, 分给

　　例句：The foreman distributes the work every morning.

　　工头每天早晨分派工作。

　　During the war, all foods were distributed in a planned way.

　　在战争中, 所有的食品都按计划分配。

　　9.expertise n.专门知识或技能

　　例句：We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.

　　他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。

　　10.produce n.产品, 农产品

　　例句：This is all locally grown produce.

　　这都是本地农产品。

　　The company markets its new produce.

　　该公司出售它的新产品。

　　11.assist vt.援助,帮助

　　例句：One should be generous with his time in assisting others.

　　一个人应该尽量协助别人。

　　1.A senior Official at the World Food Program says a pilot project in 21 developing countries, including 15 in Sub-Saharan Africa, to alleviate hunger is showing promising results.

　　这句话的主干是A senior Official says a pilot project is showing promising results.这就是这句话完整的句子结构，其他都是修饰成分。in 21 developing countries是地点状语，including做补充说明。to alleviate hunger是不定式做后置定语，修饰project。

　　2.But, very often, it notes food is available in the markets, but people cannot afford to buy it.

　　afford to(买)得起(某物)

　　例句：There was not an instant that we could afford to lose.

　　我们一刻都不能耽误。

　　3.WFP Deputy Executive Director Sheila Sisulu is responsible for the office of hunger solutions.

　　be responsible for为...负责,形成...的原因

　　例句：They were sure that fate was responsible for their meeting.

　　他们相信他们相遇是命运的安排。

　　4.Sisulu says WFP uses the expertise of the Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Fund for Agricultural Development to advise the farmers on the best seed and fertilizers to use.

　　这句话的主干是Sisulu says WFP uses the expertise to advise ……of the Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Fund for Agricultural Development是个很长的短语，表明到底是谁的专业知识和技能。on the best seed and fertilizers to use说明针对哪一方面的建议。

　　5.And if it is a farmer in Uganda, they have access to that market or a farmer in South Africa, they have access to that market because now they can meet those standards.

　　can meet those standards达到标准用meet这个词，另外，满足要求也是用Meet这个词，meet the demand of……