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.
SOURCE DuPont
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