IFAD President says smallholder farmers can, with increased investment in rural areas

Rome, 27 October 2011 – As the world anticipates the 7 billionth person, Kanayo F. Nwanze, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) raises the critical question of who will feed the rapidly expanding number of people on the planet.

“Whether you are number 7 billion or number 7 billion and one, all of us, in this generation and the next, must have enough safe, nutritious and affordable food,” Nwanze said. “As the population grows exponentially, we must support smallholder farmers so that they can feed themselves and contribute to the world’s food supply. And, at the same time, ensure that those who need to buy food have the income to do so.”

Next week, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), marks the population milestone of 7 billion people.

“Having more mouths to feed is certainly a challenge at a time when already one billion children, women and men are chronically hungry. But it also presents an opportunity to increase the productivity and income of smallholder farmers, those already producing up to 80 per cent of the food consumed locally in developing countries,” Nwanze added.

Fifty years ago, the population was half of what it is now. According to the United Nations Population Division, the world population is expected to increase to 8 billion by 2025 and by 2050, it will be 9.3 billion. Food availability must go up by 70 per cent over the next 40 years if it is to keep pace with the expected demand.

The challenge, Nwanze said, is to make food production less insecure and more profitable for the majority of the world’s poorest people – smallholders and family farmers in developing countries.

“Improve their ability to feed themselves and you also improve their ability to feed others,” he said. “Improve their ability to generate income and you create new consumers and stronger economies.”

Specifically, it will be critical to improve cereal yields and to integrate smallholder farmers into high-value national, regional and international markets. Governments, development agencies and the producers themselves have key roles to play in the transformation of agriculture into a thriving sector.

But, Nwanze added, future food security also depends on whether rural areas create opportunities for young people. Currently, in some sub-Saharan African countries, more than 60 per cent of the population is under 25 years old and in India more than 70 per cent is under the age of 35. Agriculture must be a viable and attractive option, and young entrepreneurs should be provided with finance and other resources so that they can grow small businesses and build vibrant rural communities, he said.

”We must ensure that rural girls, as well as boys, are educated and receive training, so that they can be the community leaders, the entrepreneurs and the productive farmers of tomorrow,” Nwanze added. “It is one of the most effective strategies for reducing poverty and malnutrition.”

Notes to Editors

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), next week marks the symbolic observation of this historic population milestone. Earlier this year, UNFPA began its 7 Billion Actions campaign to build global awareness of the challenges and opportunities presented by a growing population.

IFAD’s Rural Poverty Report 2011: New realities, new challenges: new opportunities for tomorrow’s generation has estimates on poverty rates in rural areas of developing countries, as well as poverty trends in each region. The report highlights the need to make smallholder agriculture more productive and profitable through a new agenda for sustainable agricultural intensification that capitalizes on changing market conditions and new market opportunities. In addition, it underlines the importance of building poor rural people’s capabilities to take advantage of opportunities in the non-farm economy. The report concludes with suggested policies and actions for governments and development practitioners that would assist poor rural people to lift themselves out of poverty.

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Press release No.: IFAD/75/2011

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) works with poor rural people to enable them to grow and sell more food, increase their incomes and determine the direction of their own lives. Since 1978, IFAD has invested about US$13.2 billion in grants and low-interest loans to developing countries through projects empowering about 400 million people to break out of poverty, thereby helping to create vibrant rural communities. IFAD is an international financial institution and a specialized UN agency based in Rome – the United Nation’s food and agricultural hub. It is a unique partnership of 167 members from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), other developing countries and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).