Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)
4 May 2008
The urban poor, who have to purchase their food, are facing considerable difficulties due to high prices of global cereal grains, especially rice, wheat maize.
"When you combine this with the increase in fuel prices, they're taking a double hit. Their cost of living has increased significantly, and they are struggling," said Tom Remington, Catholic Relief Services' principal agriculture advisor for Africa.
In a recent interview with Debbie DeVoe, CRS' regional information officer in East Africa, Remington the crisis is also hurting many of the rural poor who are not able to produce enough food to meet their needs and will have to purchase increasingly expensive food to make ends meet.
"They may be forced to sell household assets to afford this food, perpetuating the vicious cycle of poverty. This will get even worse as food prices continue to rise globally."
The crisis, however, can benefit rural farmers who have a marketable surplus, the expert said. "For example, CRS works with navy bean farmers in Ethiopia and chickpea farmers in Tanzania to link them to profitable markets. As the prices for these commodities shoot up, the farmers can invest in increasing their production to make more money."
The rising food prices, he pointed out, can be an opportunity for farmers in the developing world if they are included as part of the solution. "Make no mistake: The increased prices for wheat, maize, soybean and other edible oils have been a boon for farmers who are exporting from the United States, Europe and elsewhere. The question is, how can we help African farmers also benefit from the increase in prices while contributing to increases in food supply?"
CRS is known for an innovative approach that uses vouchers and fairs to get needed assets into the hands of poor farmers. Eligible farmers receive a set of vouchers worth a given sum. They then use the vouchers to "buy" seeds, farming tools, fertilizer or livestock from approved local sellers who typically attend a special fair. This approach helps farmers increase agricultural production and subsequently their incomes.
The approach was successfully applied by CRS in 2006 as part of drought response activities in Kenya, with 2,500 expectant and nursing mothers and 3,500 families with malnourished children receiving food vouchers to supplement their food resources.
Remington said the current crisis in prices could be a driver to increase production in Africa. "Africa has the potential. Will that potential be tapped? That's the question."
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