UK Accused of Ignoring World's Poorest Farmers

from One World

Voices of the rural poor must be heard when tackling poverty, asserts new report

The agricultural policy of the UK government's Department for International Development (DFID) is ignoring the needs and voices of the poorest farmers and prioritising economic growth over tackling hunger and improving food security, according to a report to be published on Wednesday 28th November by Concern Worldwide.

The report - Unheard Voices - The case for supporting marginal farmers - asserts that the failure of DFID's agricultural policy to specifically address the needs of the poorest farmers in developing countries is particularly concerning given the fact that more than 75% of the world¹s hungry and malnourished live in rural areas and depend directly or indirectly on farming for their survival.

"Whilst marginal farmers should be at the centre of DFID¹s efforts to defeat poverty and reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) their voices and demands are instead being ignored in favour of farmers who produce surplus for markets and are therefore considered able to contribute to the growth of the economy", says Ruchi Tripathi, Head of Policy for Concern Worldwide and
co-author of the report.

The report reveals that the shift towards economic growth and away from pro-poor policies in agriculture by donors such as DFID has led to a decline in aid to agriculture overall and a weaker demand for assistance from developing country governments. This decline and the way in which aid to agriculture has been allocated means that poor farmers are excluded and unable to access the support they desperately need for low-cost technologies that would help them increase their food output and tackle hunger and spiralling poverty in the rural areas.

The report provides clear examples of the way in which poor farmers, including those with whom Concern Worldwide works, have shown that with the right kind of assistance and support such as simple low-cost technologies, training in new farming practices and the provision of tools and seeds, they have the potential to significantly increase their output, make themselves more food secure and improve their livelihoods. This is why donors such as DFID should listen to the needs and demands of these farmers when reviewing their agricultural policy instead of pursuing a "one size-fits all" approach which further marginalises the poorest farmers", says Ruchi Tripathi.

Mahlathi Moyo, Concern Partner and Chairperson of the Mongu District Farmers Association in Zambia adds: "Poor farmers are facing many challenges that affect their ability to grow enough to feed their families, but these challenges can be overcome. Good agricultural policies that are appropriate to specific geographical areas must be put in place, and the people responsible for developing those policies must listen to the voicesof the poorest farmers to ensure that their circumstances are taken in to account."

The report forms part of Concern Worldwide's campaign "Unheard Voices", which calls on DFID to ensure that when reviewing its agricultural policy in 2008 that the role of poor farmers in defeating rural poverty is acknowledged and that their needs are prioritised and voices heard instead of focusing only on farmers that already produce for markets.