New York, New York
July 3, 2008
DuPont (NYSE: DD) Group Vice President James C. Borel told a
United Nations (UN) special meeting here today that the public
and private sectors must act quickly to knock down barriers and
help small-scale farmers in the developing world move out of
poverty.
Speaking on behalf of industry for the International Chamber of
Commerce at the UN Special Meeting of the Economic and Social
Council, Borel said that lack of access to credit and insurance,
regulatory constraints, limited product and agronomic knowledge,
and lack of secure land tenure are blocking small-scale farmers'
access to critical improved agricultural inputs that are common
in the developed world.
"From seeds to fertilizers, farmers need access to high-quality
agricultural inputs to increase their productivity and move past
subsistence farming in a sustainable manner," Borel said. "In
2008, farmers in developing countries should not be producing at
20 percent of the production of farmers in the developed world.
The good news is that every single one of the limitations can be
overcome."
Borel provided examples of how the private sector is working
with local governments and farmers in Malawi, Ethiopia and India
to provide insurance, quality inputs and agronomic advice to
farmers to encourage investment and expanded development.
"Programs like these need to be replicated and scaled up," he
said.
"Access to secure land tenure continues to be a disincentive for
production in many countries," Borel added, "particularly for
women. Farmers' capacity to increase productivity is contingent
on their access to secure land tenure."
Borel told the group that once farmers in developing nations are
able to produce enough food to first feed their families, market
access is then critical to helping them sell their excess grain
and move out of poverty.
"This issue is not just about food production, it's also about
income generation," he said. "Improving access to markets can
help subsistence farmers alleviate the current food challenge."
In many developing countries, the infrastructure necessary to
access markets -- such as roads and storage facilities -- is
either not available or inadequate. There is a dire need to
invest in basic infrastructure to link farmers to markets.
Borel warned the group that society must act quickly to increase
productivity and efficiency or the current crisis will become
chronic. "It is not too late," he said. "However, we cannot wait
another day for these issues to work themselves out.
"We have the technologies and expertise to equip small-scale
farmers with the resources they need to help themselves and
society. And linking these producers with markets is crucial to
paving a path out of poverty."
DuPont is a science-based products and services company.
Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating
sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier
life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries,
DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services
for markets including agriculture and food; building and
construction; communications; and transportation. |
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