Agriculture
There is global recognition that hunger and the cycle of poverty in Africa are two of the most significant development challenges that the world faces today. USAID's African agricultural activities are focused on reducing hunger, combating rural poverty, promoting economic growth and protecting the environment. Studies have shown agriculture to be the most effective driver of growth in the world’s poorest countries. Raising agricultural productivity is essential for reducing rural poverty, enhancing food security, and stimulating broad-based economic growth. But any plans for improving agriculture depend on improving the technical, economic, legal and trade conditions under which farmers and agribusinesses must operate.
At the G8 Summit in L'Aquila, Italy in July 2009, global leaders – including President Obama – called for increased investment in agriculture and rural development as a proven lever for combating food insecurity and as an engine for broader economic growth, prosperity, and stability. Feed the Future , the U.S. government's global hunger and food security initiative, renews our commitment to invest in sustainably reducing hunger and poverty. President Obama's pledge of at least $3.5 billion globally for agricultural development and food security over three years helped to leverage and align more than $18.5 billion from other donors in support of a common approach to achieve sustainable food security.
Feed the Future pursues two paths: (1) addressing the root causes of hunger that limit the potential of millions of people and (2) establishing a lasting foundation for change by aligning U.S. resources with country-owned processes and sustained, multi-stakeholder partnerships.
The United States also supports FEWS NET-the Famine Early Warning System Network which provides timely information on emerging threats to food security.
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