Climate change

Kathmandu: A United Nations agency has warned that the climate change would adversely affect agriculture and hit the developing nations the hardest, leading to decreased food production and increased prices. Food and Agriculture Organisation claimed that climate change would be pushing the food prices moderately up until 2050. The Rome-based agency on Wednesday estimated that until 2050, developing countries might experience a decline of 9-21 percent reduction in agricultural productivity and that would mean increased food imports for most of the African countries that are already dying of hunger. — HNS

Civil society’s pleas

Kathmandu: Expressing doubts over a timely statute, civil society leaders on Thursday, urged the political parties to concentrate more on constitution drafting rather than on political squabbling. In a press statement, Daman Nath Dhungana, Padma Ratna Tuladhar, Mathura Shrestha and Kapil Shrestha said that constitution drafting process should get priority over petty party interests. They also urged the leaders to be united and hand over the statute to the people before May 28, 2010. — HNS

Bhasa conference

BHAKTAPUR: A two-day Nepal Bhasha Sahitya Tamunjiya- Newar Community’s Literature conference began here in Bhaktapur on Thursday. Bikulal Twanabasu, a senior citizen inaugurated the conference. Litterateurs from Kavre, Surkhet, Dailekh and Kathmandu, who participated in the event, recited their favourite poems and songs. — HNS