The Earth Institute chose a bizarre venue to invite a bunch of journalists to have lunch with its director, Jeffrey Sachs (pictured) yesterday. The topic of discussion was the global food crisis. The venue? Nairobi's most expensive restaurant, the Tamarind. What was wrong with nyama choma and ugali?
Half of Nairobi's rich and famous (also known as "politicians") seemed to be eating there too, although they can afford it.
The substance of what Sachs had to say though was fairly interesting. He believes the rich world (not just the West, but the oil-rich Middle East too) should put together a $10bn global fund for African farmers.
Based on the Global Fund to fight Aids, TB and Malaria, the "food fund" would provide subsidised fertiliser and seeds to millions of farmers across the continent. This, Sachs claims, could double Africa's food production within the decade.
The example he kept on coming back to was Malawi. As we reported earlier this week, food production has dramatically increased in Malawi following the implementation of an agricultural subsidy programme. Copy this model elsewhere, Sachs argues, and you will see similar results.
It sounds simple enough, and maybe it is. But even if (and that's a pretty big if) the rich world decides it is a good idea, it is unlikely to happen. For a start, what the rich world says is very different from what the rich world does.
Remember Gleneagles? Aid to the developing world was going to increase by $50bn by 2010. Whenever this subject gets raised now in the presence of DfID officials they start staring at their feet and mumbling. There is an almost universal acceptance that the pledge is not going to be met.
(Photo: Getty Images)
The success of Malawi on food security is a good example of proper use of subsidy programme. However, it is important to note that it is a local solution developed by Malawians. It is not new because it had been in place since independence in 1964 but destroyed under World Bank and IMF structural adjustment programmes. The next step for the world as a whole to take is buying produce from local farmers at values that allow farmers to make profits. The high food prices must trickle down to smallholder farmers so that they increase food production.
Posted by: Boyson Moyo | Friday, 09 May 2008 at 01:01 PM
The human population of the world has reached crisis point. The countries with food shortages have too many people, unless this is addressed there will be mass starvation. Two children is enough for anyone.
Posted by: P Lee | Wednesday, 21 May 2008 at 08:39 AM
sachs, is absolutely right...but the problem isnt about the money being provided it is about how it will be received and used...if africans can stop being soo corupt maybe we would see a change... the african countries outrank all developing countries in terms of the aid we received from developed nations, but where are the results...its all about how we choose to spend that money... our leaders are thieves..
Posted by: tumaini | Monday, 29 September 2008 at 07:01 PM