UN calls for support for Africa's smallholder farmers
The United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has called for more support for smallholder farmers in Africa as only eight countries in the continent have fulfilled a target for agricultural investment. IFAD president Kanayo Nwanze spoke at the World Economic Forum on Africa being held in Tanzania in May.
He argued that creating infrastructure to help smallholder farmers develop is critical if African governments are to stop people migrating to urban areas in search of employment. African countries agreed to devote ten percent of their annual budgets to agriculture in 2003 but only eight have done so, Nwanze said.
He added that Africa will receive 45% of IFAD's three billion US dollar portfolio for 2010-2012.