Staff Writer

PLATTSBURGH -- With global food prices on the rise, there is concern that the cost of staple items in developing countries may spiral out of reach.

In Nicaragua, the price to feed a child for one day through the Mission of Hope's Children Feeding Children program has risen to 35 cents, up about a dime.

Sister Debbie Blow, Mission of Hope executive director, said the increase comes to a part of the world where every penny counts.

"At least here (in the United States), even with increased prices, we have a supply of food.

"There, it's not even an issue of supply. There is a lack of food in the country, and they are struggling to find it."

GREEN PROJECTS

She says these issues bring even greater urgency to the mission's drive to "go green" and provide long-term sustainability to the country.

"It doesn't mean just saving energy," Blow explained. "It means using the available environmental resources in the country to counteract the food shortage. We're going green in the sense of providing food and health care and education."

During recent trips to Nicaragua, volunteers have constructed above-ground gardens and planted and harvested maringa trees.

They have worked on projects concerning water development and storage, food dehydration and environmental cleanup.

They have built ramps to prevent erosion near roads hit hard by severe weather.

PASSING IT ON

Oscar Flores of Plattsburgh, who is from Nicaragua and regularly returns as a mission volunteer, said the country's food supply needs to improve.

The garden at Niño Jesus de Praga School in Chiquilistagua is used to teach students irrigation, grafting and growing techniques, in hopes the children will instruct others in their community and increase their food supply.