Global food prices fall

ROME, April 7 (agencies): Global food prices fell in March after eight months of rising to record highs, according to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Its index of global food prices, which measures monthly changes for foods including cereals, meat and sugar, averaged 229.8 points in March, down from February's record of 236.8 points. Unrest in the Middle East and the natural disaster in Japan dented demand for grain, depressing the price. The UN warned the fall could be a blip. Global food prices were expected to begin rising again soon as demand begins to bounce back, a top official at the agency said. Concepcion Calpe, senior economist at the UN's FAO, said: "We believe that in the next few weeks, and there Continued to page 7 col. 1