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He cited the U.S., where the number of farmers
has dropped from tens of millions in the 1930s
to a few million several decades later, and then to
less than 1 million today.
“It’s our belief at the Gates Foundation that what
ultimately happens is that the improvement in
agricultural productivity creates greater wealth
within the economy and creates greater opportunity
to add value in other industries. But that requires
very careful planning and very careful thinking
through of policy.”
Biswas said in India, agricultural technology
was introduced to produce more food for a
growing population, but only farmers already
producing marketable crops invested in it.
The result was that poorer farmers had even less
market power. PRADAN advocates for these
farmers with the Indian government and asks
farmers what technology they need to ensure
that marginal households can produce their
own food, Biswas said.
Similarly, Ayele said, by working with smallholder
farmers, IDE gives them an opportunity
to increase their productivity and their incomes.
“We are making the rural life more attractive
to them and creating a means of survival for
them.” He cited an example in Rift Valley,
Ethiopia. Though the area has many lakes,
farmers traditionally have been unable to afford
irrigation pumps. Commercial farmers come
in, rent the land, irrigate the crops and hire
Proceedings of the 2011 Water for Food Conference 43
“e importance of prosperity and wealth creation is
key as a mechanism to address poverty.”
landowners as laborers. By offering smallholder
farmers affordable irrigation technology, IDE
gives them an opportunity to work and control
their own land.
Ayele emphasized the need to relate to farmers
as customers. “If they get the opportunity, the
right opportunity, they can lift themselves out
of poverty very quickly. That’s what we
have learned.”
Raikes said prosperity, wealth creation and
affordable technology are critical when
addressing poverty. And technology should
not be developed just for wealthy farmers.
“We need to think about how we can have more
affordable solutions for these smallholder farms.
We need to understand how these farmers can
have market access,” he said.