"Enabling and assisting sustainable pro-poor economic growth through support for rural development and agriculture is central to the broader fight against poverty in the poorest countries, particularly in Africa."
White Paper on Irish Aid

The Challenge

Three quarters of the world’s poorest people live in rural areas and their livelihoods depend on agriculture. Agriculture is the major productive activity in many developing countries and is closely related to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s).

Women are responsible for much of the agricultural production. Growing crops and rearing animals involves use and management of the natural resource base and is closely related to environmental sustainability. Adequate food supplies are essential to good nutrition and health – including maternal and child health. Proper nourishment is also essential to the mitigation of the effects of HIV/AIDS. Agriculture often provides the income which is used to support children at school. It is clear that the development of agriculture is essential to the achievement of 6 of the 8 MDG’s. Its relationship with a seventh, the combating of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, is an intimate and complex one.

Agriculture dominates Africa’s economy, accounting for over 70% of the continent’s labour force and over 40% of its exports. Agriculture is the largest private sector activity in Africa. However, the current trends in agricultural performance in Sub-Saharan Africa are poor. Between 1980 and 2001, overall agricultural output in the region declined by 5%, while the population expanded. The result is that the number of people who are chronically hungry increased by 50%. A fall in global commodity prices, poor planning and low investment by governments and donors, limited technology and training, difficulties related to land ownership and tenure, as well as new threats, such as climate change, environmental degradation and HIV/AIDS, have all had a significant impact on agricultural performance in Africa.

Ireland’s Response

Irish Aid is committed to enabling and assisting sustainable pro-poor economic growth through support for rural development and agriculture. Agricultural development is central to the broader fight against poverty in the poorest countries, particularly in Africa. We will support measures to improve the production and efficiency of African agriculture through additional funding for rural infrastructure, water management and sustainable land management initiatives.

Irish Aid will also seek to assist Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to compete globally with their agricultural products. This will mean assisting with agricultural research whilst simultaneously advocating duty-free access to developed country markets for LDCs.

Last Updated: 08/02/07