Aid urged for small farmers in poor countries

UK: The Fairtrade Foundation called for efforts to tackle the global food crisis and aid small farmers in developing countries, in a new report launched today, The Global Food Crisis and Fairtrade: Small farmers, big solutions?

The report highlights the seriousness of the situation facing growers in developing countries, says London-based Christian online news service, Ekklesia.

The paper forms the basis for a high-level conference to take place in London today (19 February), at which a range of government officials, international NGOs, small farmer representatives and businesses will discuss the impact of the food crisis for small farmers and the business case for future small farmer support.

Some 450 million small farms around the world are home to 2 billion people, one third of all humanity, and therefore are vital in increasing both the production of food for local and national consumption, as well as earning crucial export income from international trade to boost wider economic growth and development.

Yet the Foundation's report, which interviewed farmers' groups in Uganda, Malawi, Nicaragua, India, Sri Lanka and the Caribbean reveals that many families are now having to spend up to 80% of their entire household budget on basic food items.

Rocketing food, fuel and fertilizer prices have had a devastating effect on their livelihoods? in some cases, families have been forced to cut out meals, take children out of school and reduce the amount of land they plant, or even sell some of their land, as they can no longer afford to farm it or buy fertilizers to keep up production.

"These are tough times for everyone, but they are desperate times for many poor communities and small farmers in developing countries," says Harriet Lamb, Chief Executive of the Fairtrade Foundation.

The report catalogues a shocking record of decline in agricultural support over recent decades. Developing country farmers, says the study, are facing an extreme credit crunch with a collapse in access to agricultural financial services.

International donors provided just $71 million for such services in 2006, compared to $466 million in 1980.

London, Prensa Latina