What is the role of agricultural subsidies in an African Green Revolution?
As part of African governments’ comprehensive support for smallholder farmers, AGRA advocates for ‘smart subsidies’ – making available improved seeds and fertilizers that are subsidized by governments and delivered through the private sector to poor farmers. Without such support, many smallholder farmers are simply unable to grow enough food to feed themselves and their families, and instead are left hungry, sick and dependent on food aid or food imports. The urgent need for smart subsidies is driven in part by the global energy crisis, which has seen the price of fertilizers and other crucial farm inputs skyrocket. And while Western governments have rushed to aid their industrial-scale farmers, African governments are only beginning to support smallholder farmers who work with virtually no help of any kind. While smart subsidies alone are not a long-term solution, they are an important aspect of the support needed to increase food production and income generation in rural communities.
