Bill Gates pushes for more attention on Africa
DES MOINES, Iowa — The world can make huge strides in reducing hunger and poverty by helping the world’s poorest farmers become more productive, Microsoft Inc. co-founder Bill Gates said Thursday.
Gates, co-chairman of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, spoke at the World Food Prize symposium, where he said more needs to be done to help small-holder farmers in Africa increase production and get their crops to market.
“If we can make small-holder farming more productive and more profitable, we can have a massive impact on hunger and nutrition and poverty,” Gates said.
The World Food Prize and the annual conference where it is awarded was founded by Nobel Peace Prize winner Norman Borlaug, a crop scientist known as the father of the green revolution.
Ethiopian scientist Gebisa Ejeta, now a professor at Purdue University in Indiana, is this year’s recipient of the $250,000 prize. Ejeta was recognized for his breakthroughs in developing a drought-resistant sorghum widely used in Africa.
Earlier Thursday, the Gates Foundation announced nearly $120 million in grants to help bring a green revolution to sub-Saharan Africa.
About half the grants will go toward agriculture research in Africa, including experiments with sorghum, millet, legumes and sweet potatoes. Several unusual projects also were announced, including proposals to use cell phones and radio programs to educate small farmers.
The foundation gave the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa $15 million to influence agricultural policy in more than a dozen African nations. The alliance plans to train about 400 agriculture economists at several African universities so they can analyze policies and advocate for change.
“Helping the poorest small-holder farmers grow more crops and get them to market is the world’s single most powerful lever for reducing hunger and poverty,” Gates said during his speech in Des Moines.
He said the global effort to help small farmers is being threatened by a divide between those who want to increase productivity and those who promote sustainability.
“It’s a false choice,” he said. “It blocks important advances. It breeds hostility among people who need to work together. And it makes it hard to launch a comprehensive program to help poor farmers.
“We certainly need both productivity and sustainability and there is no reason we can’t have both,” he said.
Gates said the environment can benefit from increased productivity.
“When productivity is too low, people start farming on grazing land, cutting down forests, using any new acreage they can,” he said. “When productivity is high, people can farm on less land.”
He said the world needs to develop crops that can grow in the world’s harshest conditions and survive drought and floods, while producing higher yields.
Gates said the global movement to reduce hunger must include everyone but that Africa must lead the way.
He said African leaders met in 2004 and pledged 10 percent of their national budgets for agriculture. While some countries, such as Ghana, have reached that goal, most have not.
“African leaders should hold each other accountable,” Gates said. “Is there any reason not to find 10 percent of your budget … for the biggest problem the poor face?”
Gates said the solution must be all-encompassing.
“We need foundations, universities, the U.N., the World Bank, scientists, farmers, groups and other to intensify their support,” he said. “And we need corporations to play a role.
He said research companies can use technology they’ve developed for big agriculture and adapt it for the needs of small farmers.
“They shouldn’t try to change the customer to suit what they sell; they should change what they sell to suit the customer,” Gates said.
He also called on food companies to use their buying power to create markets for small farmers.
“These companies have a huge opportunity to help poor farmers by turning to them as suppliers,” Gates said.
He said poor farmers are “not a problem to be solved.
“They are the solution,” he said. “The best answer for a world that is fighting hunger and poverty and trying to feed a growing population.”
Associated Press writer Donna Gordon Blankinship in Seattle contributed to this report.
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October 22nd, 2009 at 4:33 am
Subject peace and prosperity
Dear President Barrack Obama
The Great Leader of the World
I Agha Dilbar have sent Mr. President 100 registered research Letters (1000 new ideas to develop America and to Change the World for Peace and Prosperity) through Embassy of USA Islamabad till today and also direct sent these registered Letters to Whitehouse Washington DC 20500.These letters have been written on the guidelines of CHANGE WE NEED. And these letters are about the Common Men Problems of respected American Peoples and their Solutions. To end, Economic Recession, Unemployment and to Finish War, all round the World for Peace and Prosperity. In these letters I have sent one thousand new scientific Planning /Suggestions, about every walk of life for Peace through Friendship Progress and Prosperity all over the World.
Dear Barrack Obama, the Great Leader of the World, my Friend, my Brother, Provide
an opportunity to Agha Dilbar to pay an Official Visit to America, that we two brothers can sit together and by halting this horrible war(In this war 1-million peoples have died from 9/11 till today, if this war continues, it will become the 111- World War.200-Million people would die, if 111-World War is triggered) can take out 6.5 billion people of the World from abyss of destruction and then put them on the road to Progress and Prosperity.
Dear President Barrack Obama considers, from 9/11 till today, America has conducted
many war operations in connection with War on Terror, resulting the circle of war has spread hundred times. Millions innocent persons have died. Many
More have been rendered homeless. One Lak (10000) war affected youth joined the army of Al-Qaida and Talban by the help of anti American countries have begun gorilla war in a horrible manner. It is the result of wrong war strategy. I Agha Dilbar desire to solve all above mentioned problems in a meeting with President Barrack Obama by adopting new revolutionary planning by bringing an end to present gorilla war in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the result the World can enter in a peaceful, advanced and progressive world, May it be so.
I Agha Dilbar have a new War Strategy to achieve success through Table Talk between Talban, Pakistan and American Govts. 90% of Talban that are fighting against Pak Army belong from Swat and Tribal Areas of NWFP. I can provide America all realistic facts in such manner that their implementation could convert these Talban into Patriotic Citizens of Pakistan. In this War Strategy Pakistan Gov will never send his Heavy Artillery, Tanks, Cannons and Air craft in war. In this way 5-million persons will never Displaced. In the end Talban by their will handover, their Weapons to Pakistan Gov, they will come to Table Talk and Suicide Bombing will come to an end in Pakistan. Through this War Strategy Pakistani and American Govts can save expenses
on war. Through this planning American and Pakistani Govts can utilize their saving on war budgets for development of Schools, Hospitals, Colonies, Markets, Roads, Bridges, Dams, Canals and Industries of Swat and Tribal Areas of NWFP that are war affected. On account of present war strategy, Billion Dollars are being wasted yearly.
This war can cause Fall of America instead of continuation of war; my best suggestion for America must keep his Supper Power on the World and should conquer the World instead of war, but by his No-1 scientific technology spending on agriculture, trade, education, scientific development and tourism, all round the World. Making an end to Economic Crisis in America.
A new Global Package is being offered for your kind honour.America will have to make complete and final announcement that in future all Multinational American Companies to get free land on 20-years lease and will set up under the BOOT agreement (in undeveloped and poor countries) factories, mills five star hotels, schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, air companies, shipping companies, latest railway, bus transport and steel mills. All these companies will be bound to handover without any cost to underdeloped and poor countries well as their machinery and transport after 20-yaars. A new suggestion in connection with Global Peace is offered that in return of export American Agriculture and Industrial Products, will give his 50% prophet to the exporting countries and utilize as Aid on the development of agriculture, industry, trade, education and tourism. This suggestion, making an end to American Economic Crisis and get full support to enhance his Foreign Public Relation
. May it be so?
To make successful American Foreign Policy on Global Level the following planning
is put before:
a) America will have to provide free scholar ships at least to ten top master students (in each country) of medical and science in underdeveloped and poor countries of the world.
b) Highly educated and well trained one hundred cultural groups (each group contains 100 persons) will have to arrange one hundred cultural shows for three months in big cities of underdeveloped and poor countries.
c) America will have to arrange exhibitions through his Embassies for his latest products, in the underdeveloped and poor countries .All these mentioned above industrial exhibitions will be arranged continuously for two months. In the above mentioned exhibitions present products will be sold except export order booking. In mentioned above exhibitions, American Cultural Programmes will have to arrange and American Traditional Dishes will be kept for sale. In these exhibitions American Tourism Stalls will also be set of.
,
Following rules and regulations will be undertaken for the progress and prosperity of American students.
a) Among matric, fsc, bsc, engering.mbbs, llb, ca and diploma holders in all institutions, all those receiving degrees at the state level, ten each from girls and boys by cash prizes will be announced on behalf of the gov during invitation on lunch.
b) For above mentioned top ten intelligent students boys and girls each, tours for different historical and healthy sites will be arranged free of cast.
c) Talent schools of international level will be set up over the country at the district level, in which students of extra-ordinary sports talent taught from class one to fsc level.
d) American states gov will announce free transport, free lunch during education to all school, college and university students.
Minimize the aforesaid differences, which I will deliver to president
The increasing distress and hatred between the Muslim world and America is the major cause of week relationship on public and government level. As a sincere friend I have practical suggestions to Barack Obama in my official visit to America.
I request the government of America to allow me to describe (first of all my briefing with president’s advisors). My one thousand plans & ideas for changing the world before one to one meeting with the president Barac obama.thanks
The Government of America will announce to provide free home facility to employees after 20 year of service as per following rules and regulations.
1. For providing free home facility to their employees after retirement the government will deduct 2 ½% amounts for their monthly salaries.
2. The government of America will deduct 2 ½% amounts of salaries to the employee and will deposit the same in government treasury which shall be paid to the housing company on monthly basis.
3. The housing company shall provide beautiful home to the government or non government employee after 20 year of service.
4. The people not acquiring home after 20 year of service shall be paid in whole by deducted total amount from their salaries during their employment
________________________________________
I Agha Dilbar have sent Ten Million research Peace Letters to International Community from 9/11 incident till today. This letter is my Great Peace Mission plan which is continued. Present Global Economic Crisis is the result of War on Terror. This Crisis if further accelerates could initiate a 111-World War. Please hear my Voice of Truth; I can save the World, for my Great Peace Mission, with the help of President Barrack Obama, Peace and Prosperity.
Mr. Barracka Obama you are not only the Leader of America, you are Great Leader of the World. In this connection I am waiting for your Email response, dated 2.10.2009.
Please Confirm.
Thank you, God blesses you and God bless America.
Agha Dilbar (founder)
International Revolution Movement
64-neelum block ait Lahore (Pakistan)
Phone 0092427830084 0092427830084
Cell 03224628349
Email aghadilbar4@gmail.com
This Open Letter has been sent One Lak (100000) to International Community for the welfare of Humanity till today. I Agha Dilbar authorize Newspapers, Magazines, Internet, to Publish and Radio, T.V. Channels to broadcast this letter all round the World