Providing agricultural aid to developing countries

Description

Providing agricultural aid to developing countries involves delivering targeted resources, technology, training, and financial support to improve food production, sustainability, and rural livelihoods. This strategy addresses issues such as food insecurity, low crop yields, and poverty by facilitating access to quality seeds, modern equipment, irrigation, and agricultural education. The practical intent is to empower local farmers, increase productivity, and build resilience against environmental and economic challenges, thereby fostering long-term agricultural and community development.

Context

Apart from providing food aid to developing countries with inadequate or critical levels of food security, agricultural aid ranging from technical advice to supplying seeds, medicines, and agricultural equipment may be channelled into those areas to revive or bolster agricultural production. In the long-term, developing countries' agricultural systems may thereby be able to produce sufficient food to feed their populations, and not need to rely on food aid.

Implementation

In 1993, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) channelled almost US$7 million to Somalia through 15 emergency relief operations to help farmers and fisherfolk combat drought, famine and the disrupting effects of civil war by rebuilding the agricultural infrastructure in rural areas. Inputs included seeds, tools, ploughs, vaccines, fishing gear, oxen, rehabilitating veterinary clinics, advice and booklets, among others.