From Voice of America

Most African countries continue to face growing threats of hunger because they have not fulfilled their 2003 pledge to increase support for small-holder farmers, especially for women who do much of the farming on the continent.

In a report this month, the international aid agency ActionAid, warned African governments, that unless they provide more money for agriculture and make sure it goes to smallholder farmers, hunger will continue to increase across the continent.

The report “Walking the Talk,” highlights the failure of African countries in keeping their promise made ten years ago, under the 2003 Maputo Declaration, to devote ten percent of their national budgets to agriculture.  And going forward they point out that while African governments have designated 2014 as the “Year of Agriculture and Food and Nutrition Security,” the true meaning of the phrase will remain empty unless they provide more money for agriculture.

“Ten years down the line, it is amazing to see that not more than about nine countries have been able to meet that declaration in terms of implementing those targets that were set, because the governments in Maputo said they would invest ten percent and anticipate that there would be six percent annual growth within the agricultural sector,” explained David Adama, coordinator of finance for agriculture for ActionAid in Abuja.

After examining the extent of government spending on agriculture in seven African countries, ActionAid found that for example, in  Burundi, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Nigeria, and Zambia, it was found that none of these countries consistently met the ten percent spending target.
still be met.

Written by Kim Lewis | Read more at Voice of America