ROME, November 17, 2009 (AFP) - Some countries have already been successful in the fight against hunger which affects more than one billion people worldwide, the UN food agency said Tuesday.

But despite the progress, analysts said countries trying to combat the scourge still faced numerous hurdles and their efforts could bring them into conflict with global trade regulations.

Sixteen countries have already reached the goal of reducing hunger levels by 50 percent by 2015, according to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) published at a world hunger summit organised by the agency.

Among those to have hit the target are China, Brazil, Nigeria, Thailand, Armenia, Georgia, Vietnam, and Peru.

FAO chief Jacques Diouf hailed the news which he said was a result of "unflagging commitment on the part of governments of developing countries themselves and energetic support by the international community."

The FAO said success in fighting hunger could be achieved through such factors as a favourable economic environment, targeted investment and sensible planning for the future.

But Ambroise Mazal, from the French non-governmental organisation CCFD-Terre, stressed that even if a country is committed to fighting hunger "it can be faced with so many constraints that it can't do it."

Mazal highlighted the case of Malawi.

In 2005, the African country introduced a system of subsidies to smallholder farmers thanks to which the small nation shifted from being an importer of its staple crop maize to being an exporter of the crop.

But the move was against the recommendation of the World Bank, which withdrew financing.

"On one hand, there is the FAO which urges the protection of markets and aid to smallholder farmers, on the other there is the WTO (World Trade Organisation) which urges competition and the opening up of markets," said Mazal.

"We just can't continue like that."

Kanayo F. Nwanze, president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, said more thought needed to be put into how developing countries could help haul themselves out of poverty.

"There is too much emphasis on what developed countries should do, there is not enough emphasis on what the developing countries should do," he said.

Nwanze cited the example of his native Nigeria, saying it could offer help beyond its borders.

"Nigeria could do more, because Nigeria has the potential to produce food for Nigerians but also to produce enough food to create a vibrant regional market," he said.