Africa: High Food Prices Renew Interest in African Farming

14 May, 2008 in Africa

source: allAfrica
Business Daily (Nairobi)

13 May 2008
Posted to the web 13 May 2008

Dominique Patton

Africa’s agriculture sector is attracting new interest from donors and the international community as a global rise in food prices threatens to wipe out recent economic gains in developing countries.

Groups working with African farmers are now asking if these concerns can trigger a ‘green revolution’ such as the one seen in Asia following a severe food-price spike in 1973-4.

At a special meeting on food prices called by UK prime minister Gordon Brown last month, the UK pledged £400 million over five years for research aimed at higher crop yields and better pest control, a doubling of the previous year’s amount. It will also donate £120 million a year to boost the agricultural sector in poor countries and £34.7 million to reduce the cost of transportation in Africa.

The US has announced funding for agricultural development as [continue reading]