World Food Day: Give Farmers in Poor Countries a Chance
By James Shikwati Feature Article | Fri, 17 Oct 2008
| 
It s harvest time in Bommett, in south-west Kenya. Like many other farmers, Anne Rono stands amongst dry maize leaves, bringing in the harvest with the help of the seven children.
 You are not here merely to make a living. You are here to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, and with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world. You impoverish yourself if you forget this errand. - By: roylexi.com  |
The US$76 Million Purchase for Progress initiative unveiled under the auspices of The World Food Program - supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates and the Howard G. Buffet Foundation - to help poor farmers across the world increase their income is a welcome gesture. It is however important to note that it is not necessarily the lack of money that holds back food productivity in poor countries such as those in sub Sahara Africa. In most cases, it is
1. the total disregard and lack of commercialization of indigenous food crops;
2. poor government policies that discourage the enlightened populations to remain on the farm and produce foods;
3. international policy interference in poor nations activities that lead many (poor nations) to cut back budgetary allocations towards agricultural sector;
4. educational systems that ignore the strategic importance of farmers;
5. international NGOs that engage in fear agenda against technologies that would otherwise increase productivity and the;
6. dependency attitude that is perpetuated through gestures of charity.
As the world commemorates the World Food Day, it is important that we re-examine the traditional top down relationship with farmers in poor nations and give them a chance to own their seeds; make decisions on how to protect their crops and provide a friendly environment through which they can exchange and add value to their produce.
1. the total disregard and lack of commercialization of indigenous food crops;
2. poor government policies that discourage the enlightened populations to remain on the farm and produce foods;
3. international policy interference in poor nations activities that lead many (poor nations) to cut back budgetary allocations towards agricultural sector;
4. educational systems that ignore the strategic importance of farmers;
5. international NGOs that engage in fear agenda against technologies that would otherwise increase productivity and the;
6. dependency attitude that is perpetuated through gestures of charity.
As the world commemorates the World Food Day, it is important that we re-examine the traditional top down relationship with farmers in poor nations and give them a chance to own their seeds; make decisions on how to protect their crops and provide a friendly environment through which they can exchange and add value to their produce.
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World Food Day: Give Farmers in Poor Countries a Chance
Mercy Adede Bolus | U.K- | 10/19/2008 10:59:00 AM
Whilst the EU give farmers within their union subisdy to struggling farmers on the othe rhand the AU don't therefore the cycle of poverty continues in African countires. Why such inequalities between these two union with regards to helping vulnerable farmers in Africa who equally deserve to have the subsidies their counterparts within the EU have. Why a two tier system operating yet our leaders of EU and AU meet up to discuss progress of the developing world. Surely our farmers deserve the smae benefits don't they?
