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problems of agriculture nowadays

Agriculture is facing three major problems and choices:

(1)      Ecology/Technology:  Which technology to base the future of world agriculture?  As the chemical-based model falters, the companies and global establishment is opting towards genetic engineering as the alternative. Ecological farming is superior, not only for the environment, but also for productivity and farmers’ incomes.  It has not been given the chance to prove itself.  It should be.

(2)  The Global Economic Framework:  The economic environment has turned extremely bad and dangerous for developing countries’ small farmers.  IMF-World Bank structural adjustment  pressurised poor countries to liberalise food imports and abandon subsidies and government marketing boards.  The WTO agriculture agreement enables rich countries to raise their subsidies and set up astonishingly high tariffs, whilst punishing developing countries (which cannot increase their subsidies, and which have to liberalise their imports further).  Commodity prices have slumped.  These three factors are threatening the survival of developing countries’ farms and farmers.  The entire framework of global and national economic policies for agricuture have to be thoroughly revamped.

(3)  Land for the Farmers:  Many small farmers are poor and some are becoming poorer.  A main reason is unequal land distribution, where small farmers have little land security or access and lose a large part of incomes to landowners.  Land reform is urgently required and landless farmers are fighting for their rights.  But the landowners in most countries have political clout and resist change.  

All three issues have to be resolved, and in an integrated way, if sustainable agriculture is to be taken seriously.  Otherwise there will be an absolute catastrophe, especially if the wrong choices are made for two or all three of the aspects.


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