Poor farmers receive $200 million boost from UN to face food crisis
25 April 2008 - The United Nations rural development arm announced today that it is providing up to $200 million for poor farmers
during the upcoming cropping season as it tries to alleviate the suffering of hundreds of millions of people facing
hunger and malnutrition due to soaring food prices.
"The capacity of the world's 450 million smallholder farmers to respond by growing more food is at risk because of
spiralling energy and fertiliser prices," said Lennart Båge, President of the UN International Fund for Agricultural
Development (IFAD). "Poor farmers are not reaping the benefits of higher food prices because they cannot afford the
fertiliser or seeds to plant next season's crops."
Speaking after a meeting of the agency's Executive Board in Rome, he called for concerted comprehensive and coordinated
action to be taken by the international community to prevent the slide of millions into abject poverty.
"Poor rural farmers are central to any solution to today's global food crisis and the long-term problems of hunger and
poverty," Mr. Båge noted.
He called for a three-pronged strategy: providing emergency food aid to feed the hungry today; supporting, in the short
term, smallholder farmers in their bid to plan next season's crops; and longer-term investment in agriculture to ensure
food security, nutrition and rural development.
"The world has under-invested in agriculture and rural development for far too long," the President stated. "It is high
time to put this right."
Yesterday, the head of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said that surging food prices are thwarting the agency's
ability to feed the world's hungry.
"We can buy 40 per cent less food than we could last June with the same contribution," WFP Executive Director Josette
Sheeran said in a video conference from Rome, voicing concern that as many as 100 million people face being pushed
deeper into poverty.
ENDS