Managua - A call for regional unity in the face of a growing food scarcity and soaring food prices was made Wednesday by 15 Latin American countries who are urging an increase in food production through improvements in agricultural technology.

Six presidents and one prime minister were attending the summit on food sovereignty and security at a Managua conference centre, where delegates approved a declaration drafted last month by 13 agriculture ministers in the region.

The document proposes to increase food production by devoting more financial and technical means to the industry. It is set to be discussed at a technical meeting in Mexico later this month, the leaders agreed.

Bolivian President Evo Morales proposed that Latin America be declared in a "food emergency," a motion seconded by Honduran President Manuel Zelaya.

The final report held a proposal from Venezuela - whose President Hugo Chavez cancelled attendance to the summit, for health reasons.

The oil-rich South American nation, represented by Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro, suggested the creation of an "oil-agriculture fund," a Latin American bank of agricultural equipment and other items, and the launch of an agricultural fund with an initial capital of 100 million dollars.

Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa said she would take to President Felipe Calderon the Venezuelan proposal "to create a special oil-agriculture fund."

Caracas further suggested the creation of a "Latin American tax" on flights by non-Latin American airlines, and to fund regional agricultural production with assets expropriated from drug traffickers, among other things.

Costa Rican President Oscar Arias did not sign the declaration, saying he had "conceptual discrepancies." However, Arias said he will continue to take part in regional meetings on food.

Presidents Rafael Correa of Ecuador, Rene Preval of Haiti, and host Daniel Ortega also attended the meeting, alongside Ralph Gonsalves, the prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Cuban Vice President Esteban Lazo, Salvadoran Foreign Minister Marisol Argueta, and the agriculture ministers of Belize, Panama and the Dominican Republic were also present.

Both Haiti and Honduras have seen food riots in recent months, and countries across Latin America have expressed their great worry over the increase in the price of food stuffs, which officials have admitted could affect development and stability. (dpa)