Agricultural Subsidies in Africa
Subsidies for Farmers in Africa
Subsidies for farmers in Africa are a must to be given in order to help them come out of poverty by increasing food production. Most of the developed countries are distributing subsidies amongst their own selves and thus the less developed countries like Africa suffer. Agricultural subsidies in Africa are thereby required to help boost production.
For the development of agriculture and upliftment of the farmers in Africa, agricultural subsidies is a must. The government of Swaziland too intends to subsidise agriculture which in the long run will lead to increase in productivity and thereby increase in food grains.
Food shortage in Africa
Basically due to low rainfall there has been a food shortage in the country and thus poverty and hunger has increased more. Due to high prices, it became difficult for the farmers to buy seeds as well as fertilisers. It is in this light alone that the government has been chalking out an agricultural subsidy programme with the aim of helping out the poor marginal farmers.
The agricultural subsidies could increase the food grains production to around 42,000 metric tons which is quite a significant amount in terms of the measures taken by the government to remove poverty in the country.
Subsidies in Africa
Fertiliser subsidies have been getting a good boost in Malawi as well and the results of the same are for everyone to see and believe. Due to these subsidised fertilisers, the food grain production increased in Malawi which in turn helped Malawi to come out of deprivation and also helped it exporting food grains.
The policy of agricultural subsidy is now also being followed in some other countries of Africa like Tanzania, Nigeria, and Zambia. Today aid in the form of agricultural subsidies is also coming from World Bank and USAID.
Till now it has been mostly seen that the rich countries have been giving there farmers extra subsidies due to which there farmers are prospering and they are leading in exports while the impact is to be borne by the less developed countries like Africa. African countries have been asking the developed countries to bring about a change and reform in this strategy so that they too can benefit from globalisation and liberalisation.
COMMENT
Awudu Ngutte says:
It is necessary for every government to increase subsidy to its farmers. But there should be need analysis of what type of subsidy is requested by the farmers, at what time and how to utilise these materials. it is true, they need help, but the subsidies should be decided by the farmers be it material, financial etc. Also, by allocating subsidy to farmers is just a means of alleviating poverty. other prerequisite include; follow up, extension assistance, equipping extension officers, priorotising capacity programmes. A good example is the Programme for the Competitiveness of family Agro Pastoral farms (ACEFA) here in Cameroon which is impacting changes in the agro pastoral sector. After all, there are several factors that when tackle as a problem tree to kick the solution tree, then can Africa be talking of poverty alleviation.
Awudu Ngutte says:
The government of Cameroon has its Growth and Employment Strategy Paper (GESP) as a tool to attain been an emerging nation by the year 2035. This implies that the private sector amist individuals and groups be partners towards meeting the objectives. Such partnership has not been viewed as a gesture of throwing the FCFA like rain. This seek for more adaptive farming approach to reduce risk of misappropriation or embezzlement of public funds. Debt councellation for the government should be a concern for all. In this wise, hazardous approaches should be eradicated. Food security means employing and adapting the other measures not deplored in the previous years. As a project consultant, I think, copying from others is reliable for Cameroon been an Africa eminiature. My opinion to issues of grant is honesty. This is a measuring rod on both ends. The funder be ready to support and the seeker ready to contribute. Most funding sources (internal and external) sometimes take too long and at times funds projects after the planting or rearing target time frame. This go a long way to gallop projections. For the farmers, they sometimes exhibit cash contribution in bank accounts and disuade from utilising their share once external funds are transmitted. I am on a research to elaborate a macro project on revolving loan scheme. I am in search for samples of complete programmes in any part of the world on revolving loan programmes that have been carried out whether sucessful or with some difficulties.
David l. Otaka says:
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ANNA says:
Please advise or send documentation on what subsidies are available for farming in south africa.
Reinette says:
Please send documentation on what subsidies are available in South Africa