Interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry said the people of Fiji would have to brace themselves against the continuing shortage of staple food items and high world prices.

Chaudhry said record oil and food prices are creating situations all over the world and it is not just Fiji that is affected since the United Nations, International Monetary Fund and World Bank are warning of possible social unrest in poor third world countries unless immediate steps are taken to relieve the shortage of staple food items and to bring down the prices.

He said the interim government would do all it can, including reducing duty on imported staples, to soften the impact of the hardship on the poor and nothing can be done if it’s a global food crisis.

Chaudhry said the only way the people of Fiji can fight this global phenomenon is to reduce imports and grow as much of our local food.