Multilateral agriculture fund announces plans, rejects 19 countries due to lack of resources
Earlier this year, the United States pledged $475 million to the multilateral Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) –- a fund designed to fill gaps in agriculture programs where farmers need help most. Developing countries understand that agriculture is so vitally important to fighting hunger and growing their economies that 22 developing countries applied for agriculture funding through GAFSP in October. Their need is nearly $1 billion.
Despite this high level of need, the Treasury Department announced on Thursday that the multilateral fund will disburse only $97 million during this round of funding due to lack of resources. Only three countries –- Mongolia, Ethiopia and Niger — will receive grants.
One of the main reasons that the fund has very few resources to disburse is that the US has only contributed $67 million out of the $475 million it had promised to this fund. As a result, programs in 19 other countries will go unfunded and their beneficiaries will be without the improved tools and skills that this aid could provide. With food prices soaring, this could be devastating to many poor people in rural areas.
Since the fund is multilateral (which means that other donors contribute to it, too), a US contribution of $250 million will encourage other countries to do their part, so that those who have contributed are not carrying the burden alone.
Sign ONE’s petition and ask Congress to contribute $250 million to this multilateral fund in 2011 as part of $1.3 billion in 2011 for smart agriculture programs to fight hunger by helping farmers lift themselves out of poverty.
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November 16, 2010 at 9:43 am
Could Governments short on cash not also send volunteers, agriculturists, teachers, hard working humanitarians, anthropologist’s, scientists doctors, etc. to live with and teach for 6 months to a year and Motivate and TRAIN THE PEOPLE HOW TO FARM, to plant crops, orchards, raise livestock, dig wells?
Give each family their own plot, create farmer’s markets to share and sell produce, teach them how to can and dry food? Or perhaps we can turn to the private sector of those who see the planet and it’s people as interconnected…
There are many existing organizations that could all work together for a cause greater than self. I would be happy to help make the connections, do the research, create a short term and long term plan, and take action. We can’t be dependent on Governments any longer, we have to connect and HELP ONE ANOTHER.