[originaltext] (20)Food prices continue to rise, threatening to push more a

(20)Food prices continue to rise, threatening to push more and more people into poverty and hunger. A new report from the UN food agency says one of the best ways to boost agricultural productivity worldwide would be to remove the barriers women farmers face but their male counterparts do not. Women farmers tend to be less productive than men, but there are good reasons for that, says Susan Stone, an economist with the UN food agency. Her report finds that in many countries, women are half as likely as men to use fertilizers to increase yields.(21)In addition, many of the world’s women are raising their children at the same time they’re farming, which also may help explain why their productivity is lower than men’s. Susan Stone says governments would be wise to back programs which help close the gap for women farmers.(22)But beyond financial support, she adds, in many countries, the policy environment needs to change, too. She insists that it’s about time governments came on board and really look at their laws, which discriminate against women in the area of property, labor force participation and marriage. She believes leveling the playing field has wider benefits beyond the women themselves. That’s because studies show when women have financial resources, they are more likely than men to spend them on food, health and educating their children. And that means a better future for the next generation.
20. What causes more people to be poor and hungry?
21. Why are women less productive than men?
22. What should governments do to help women according to Susan Stone?