Obama: Some African nations need institutions to fight hunger

L'AQUILA, Italy (CNN) - Nations have a moral obligation to help countries where there is hunger, and national institutions are needed to help farmers thrive in these places, U.S. President Barack Obama said as the G8 summit was ending Friday.

There are 1 billion people facing dire hunger around the globe, he said in answer to a reporter's question at a news conference. He said there are many people without enough food in the Kenyan village where his father was born, and said he has questioned why that is the case.

"There is no reason why Africa cannot be self-sufficient when it comes to food. It has enough arable land," he said. But a comprehensive plans and institutional mechanisms are needed to assure an adequate food supply.