Millions Fed: Pathways to Prosperity
Investments in agriculture provide a path for small farmers to prosper; improved seeds, new tools and training, and access to markets can lead to better, healthier lives. Learn about two successful projects—one in Uganda, one in India—that are having a significant impact on farmer productivity and are helping millions lift themselves out of hunger and poverty.
Agricultural Development Overview
Approximately 1 billion people live in chronic hunger and more than 1 billion live in extreme poverty.
Many are small farmers in the developing world. Their success or failure determines whether they have enough to eat, are able to send their children to school, and can earn any money to save.
Small farmers in the developing world face many challenges:
- Their soil is often degraded from overuse.
- They lack quality seeds, fertilizer, irrigation, and other farming supplies.
- Their crops are threatened by diseases, pests, and drought.
- When small farmers do manage to grow a good crop, they frequently lack access to markets.
Funders have sharply cut their international aid to agricultural development over the past few decades.
The majority of agricultural research and technology doesn’t reach or benefit small farmers in the developing world. In sub-Saharan Africa, agriculture employs two-thirds of the population but accounts for only 4 percent of government spending.
There is little support for women, who do the majority of the work.
In developing countries, women do up to 80 percent of the work on farms, like the planting, harvesting, and processing. They are responsible for both producing the food and preparing it for their families. Yet women farmers receive only 5 percent of extension services and are underrepresented in training programs. There are also few women in agricultural research and policy-making positions.
Improvements in agriculture help people in poverty improve their lives.
When small farmers are able to get more out of their land and labor, their families eat better, earn more money, and lead healthier lives. In Asia and Latin America, improvements in rice and wheat crops several decades ago doubled yields, saved hundreds of millions of lives, and contributed to long-term economic growth. This “Green Revolution” showed it is possible to reduce hunger and poverty on a large scale but demonstrated the importance of focusing on the environment and the needs of small farmers.
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