Business | Economy
IFAD president urges aid for small farmers
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) President, Lennart Bage, arrived in Dubai on Friday to address the World Economic Forum (WEF) Summit on Global Agenda.
- Staff Report
- Published: 23:20 November 7, 2008
Dubai: The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) President, Lennart Bage, arrived in Dubai on Friday to address the World Economic Forum (WEF) Summit on Global Agenda.
In his speech, Bage emphasised the importance of assisting the 450 million smallholder farms which provide livelihoods for over two billion people in developing countries.
Increasing their output to help satisfy market demand is essential to counter balance the growth in food prices and to avert future crises.
In April this year, Ifad made available Dh734.89 million ($200 million) to countries worst hit by rising food prices.
Building enduring food security requires a steep increase in investment in agriculture to reverse decades of neglect and is fundamental for the sustainable economic growth needed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that world leaders adopted in 2000.
The Summit debate is expected to make an important contribution towards stronger policies and resources in favour of agricultural development in poorer countries.
The need for increased investment in agriculture, the problem of water scarcity and concerns over rural youth unemployment in the Near East and North Africa region are expected to feature prominently in their discussions.
During his stay in Dubai, Bage will brief senior UAE officials on the outcome of the Consultation on the 8th Replenishment of Ifad's Resources, including Saudi Arabia's announcement of USD 50 million last April.
The talks will also cover areas of cooperation between Ifad and the UAE, including boosting co-financing of agricultural and rural development projects through the Abu Dhabi Fund for Arab Economic Development.
Joint activities can help reverse rural impoverishment, particularly in member states of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC).
Bage will also brief officials on progress achieved by a large number of Ifad-financed research programmes, designed to benefit member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) including the UAE.
Among these are Qatar's Regional Centre for Plant Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Doha and the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) in Dubai.
The President of Ifad will also highlight in his discussions the possibility of UAE nationals taking part in Ifad-supported training programmes.
Nationals of other GCC countries have already benefited from training provided by the Ifad-supported Agriculture Management Training Program (NENAMTA).
Also on the agenda is the development of a joint Associated Professionals Programme (APO), which will give young UAE nationals a chance to gain work experience in Ifad in the area of rural development. While in Dubai, Bage will also visit the headquarters of ICBA.
The UAE, along with other Opec members, was among the first founding members of Ifad in 1977.
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