Aid for Agriculture

In developing countries, 60-80% of the population typically depends upon farming for their livelihood. Yet developing country governments spend, on average, only about 4% of their national budgets on agriculture. Similarly, only 3.5% of aid from international donors is directed to agriculture, a dramatic decline from 18% in 1979.

The World Bank’s 2008 World Development Report focused exclusively on the role that agriculture plays in reducing poverty and contributing to increased household food security, and called for more investment in agriculture. This call has been echoed and reinforced by recent high-level meetings, such as the FAO Food Summit in June ’08 and the meeting of G8 leaders in July ‘08. Canadian representatives attended and signed onto the summary statements from both of these meetings.

Also in July, the United Nations published their “Comprehensive Framework for Action” on the Global Food Crisis, in which they urged donor countries to “increase the percentage of Official Development Assistance to be invested in food and agricultural development from the current 3% to 10% within 5 years to reverse the historic under-investment in agriculture.”

The Canadian Foodgrains Bank, together with other Canadian NGOs, is asking CIDA to increase its investment in agriculture. The documents below provide more details on our campaign.

1. A short paper to inform Canadian MPs why we are asking for more aid for agriculture.

2. A letter to Prime Minister Harper, urging aid for agriculture as one step in addresses the food crisis

3. Our Policy Documents Archive has a section on “Food Justice and Development Assistance”, containing articles on what kind of agriculture will help small farmers.

4. Our “Hungry Farmers” brochure , explaining the links between hunger and farming in developing countries, is available for free download or for order.

5. Good News - CIDA announces food security as a new theme ( May 20th, 2008 )

6. Canada should take leadership on food - article in English and French

7. During the G8 meeting in Italy, Canada announces doubling of food security funding