Annan to lead revolution for African farmers
Tuesday, 19 June 2007
Alec Russelli from Cape Town
KOFI Annan, the former United Nations secretary-general, has hailed as tough but "doable" his new mission to help reverse the decline of Africa's agriculture.
Six months after he left the UN, Mr Annan is to head an organisation set up by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to try to revolutionise the productivity of Africa's millions of small farmers.
Addressing the recent World Economic Forum in Cape Town, where his role was unveiled, Mr Annan said sub-Saharan Africa was the only region in the world where per capita food production had steadily decreased. Three-quarters of its arable land lacked fertiliser, he added.
"Ours is a continent that contains 16 of the 18 least nourished countries in the world," he said. "We cannot pull our people out of poverty without a strong agricultural base."
He is to be the chairperson of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (Agra). A loose coalition of donors, business, government and civil society, it aims to provide a range of help, including water management, access to markets, improving irrigation and soil health, and backing development of new seed systems.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Mr Annan acknowledged Africa had failed before to overhaul its agriculture. "Often these policies are discussed at the capitals and they don't penetrate downwards as effectively as they could."
This initiative, however, he said, relied on governments for support but not for implementation. "African farmers are quite smart. Show them what works and say no more," he said.
The alliance was founded last year with an initial $150m (€113m, £76m) from the Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation. It is loosely modelled on the "green revolutions" that helped transform productivity in Asia and Central America more than a generation ago.
The alliance's intention to develop seeds with higher yields may alarm some governments in Africa, where there is deep suspicion of genetically modified crops.
Mr Annan acknowledged the sensitivities. He recalled that when there were food shortages in southern Africa two years ago, several countries rejected UN donations of genetically modified grain, partly on the grounds that if they accepted it they might not be able to export food products to Europe.
But he did not rule out the future use of GM crops. "We are not jumping into genetically modified foods. The science is in evolution. I don't know what in the future the scientific community will surprise us with."
He added that the havoc threatened in Africa by climate change made his mission all the more pressing. "We are already hard hit. The small-scale farmer is suffering from drought, the extension of the desert and more frequent floods.
"Agra can help these farmers to look at water management . . to be able to retain something for the difficult periods. We know the drought will come. What is important is that we are ready when that comes, so we don't go out with a bowl in hand begging for food."
.........................................
— FT Syndication Service
KOFI Annan, the former United Nations secretary-general, has hailed as tough but "doable" his new mission to help reverse the decline of Africa's agriculture.
Six months after he left the UN, Mr Annan is to head an organisation set up by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to try to revolutionise the productivity of Africa's millions of small farmers.
Addressing the recent World Economic Forum in Cape Town, where his role was unveiled, Mr Annan said sub-Saharan Africa was the only region in the world where per capita food production had steadily decreased. Three-quarters of its arable land lacked fertiliser, he added.
"Ours is a continent that contains 16 of the 18 least nourished countries in the world," he said. "We cannot pull our people out of poverty without a strong agricultural base."
He is to be the chairperson of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (Agra). A loose coalition of donors, business, government and civil society, it aims to provide a range of help, including water management, access to markets, improving irrigation and soil health, and backing development of new seed systems.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Mr Annan acknowledged Africa had failed before to overhaul its agriculture. "Often these policies are discussed at the capitals and they don't penetrate downwards as effectively as they could."
This initiative, however, he said, relied on governments for support but not for implementation. "African farmers are quite smart. Show them what works and say no more," he said.
The alliance was founded last year with an initial $150m (€113m, £76m) from the Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation. It is loosely modelled on the "green revolutions" that helped transform productivity in Asia and Central America more than a generation ago.
The alliance's intention to develop seeds with higher yields may alarm some governments in Africa, where there is deep suspicion of genetically modified crops.
Mr Annan acknowledged the sensitivities. He recalled that when there were food shortages in southern Africa two years ago, several countries rejected UN donations of genetically modified grain, partly on the grounds that if they accepted it they might not be able to export food products to Europe.
But he did not rule out the future use of GM crops. "We are not jumping into genetically modified foods. The science is in evolution. I don't know what in the future the scientific community will surprise us with."
He added that the havoc threatened in Africa by climate change made his mission all the more pressing. "We are already hard hit. The small-scale farmer is suffering from drought, the extension of the desert and more frequent floods.
"Agra can help these farmers to look at water management . . to be able to retain something for the difficult periods. We know the drought will come. What is important is that we are ready when that comes, so we don't go out with a bowl in hand begging for food."
.........................................
— FT Syndication Service