Ronald Reagan

“ Last year in the United States alone, millions of people in more than 3,000 communities participated in a wide variety of World Food Day activities.
Yet even this great outpouring paled before the American response to the terrible famine in Africa, especially in Ethiopia and Sudan.
For many years, the United States has shared its agricultural abundance and technical expertise with nations in need. We have led the effort to alleviate world hunger. ”

“ Although some American farmers have recently suffered economic reverses, this Nation has not wavered in its commitment to aid the developing nations of the world to improve their agricultural methods and to provide food relief during emergencies. Our assistance has paid dividends to the recipient countries. Since 1954, when the Eisenhower Food For Peace program was adopted by the United States, food production per person has increased an average of 21 percent in the developing countries. ”

“ The persistent problem of underfed people has deep roots that unfortunately are too often nourished by government policies that discourage economic growth and progress, put obstacles in the way of international trade, and inhibit a free market system. ”