US aid for African agriculture stagnates

U.S. financial support for African agriculture has been stagnant since 2000 and lags far behind substantial increases in foreign aid for other purposes, according to a report on U.S. agricultural development assistance issued today by the Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa and Resources for the Future.

There is renewed recognition by U.S. and African political leaders and experts that agriculture is critical to future economic growth and poverty reduction in Africa, but total U.S. agricultural development assistance for Africa has grown only by an estimated 2% in real terms since 2000. According to the report, the United States spent approximately $514 million in agricultural development assistance for Africa in 2004, compared to $459 million in 2000. The Partnership report defines "agricultural development assistance" broadly, to include any activity that helps foster agriculture-led economic growth, ranging from natural resource management and improved farm productivity to rural roads and trade policy....

"While increased expenditures for health programs in Africa are critical, agricultural development in the region must not be allowed to fall by the wayside," noted Peter McPherson, USAID administrator in the Reagan administration and founding co-chair of the Partnership. "Food and health are both high priorities and highly interdependent. Without adequate food, people will never be healthy. Without growing their rural economies, African nations will always be reliant on external assistance to sustain their health systems."