FOOD AID

Use and Misuses of Food Aid



Use and Misuses of Food Aid

Food Aid: Uses And Misuses

Food aid is the supply of food in developing countries or disaster areas at the expense of the donor states. She makes a total of about five percent of official development assistance, with individual donor countries (including the U.S.), the proportion is higher. About one-fifth of the food aid donors buy in the country in which it is to be used, or in its neighboring countries. Around four fifths shall be supplied from donor countries. Some, particularly the United States use this to reduce their agricultural surpluses (Bello, 2001, pp.45-55).

The available amount of each is therefore directed more to the harvesting of donor countries than to the needs of poor countries. Used is roughly one tenth of the food aid for disaster relief and refugee assistance. Two-tenths are used for development projects, especially as payment for community work (food for work). Most of it is countries where food shortages, made regularly available (Enríquez, 2000, pp. 102-114).

Food aid is a very problematic way of helping. In the emergency and refugee assistance they need, but also here at the place of purchase is often useful and accurate distribution is not easy. The benefit of the other two uses is doubtful. Cheap food supplies may discourage local farmers - especially if the recipient government or an auxiliary aid in the destination country puts on the market. Donors can help such poor states of persistent addictive. According to a study by the DAC in 2005, it is often easier to support the fight against poverty with money instead of food (Holt, 2006, pp. 155-165).

Distribution of food to people to ensure their survival in times of famine, meets an urgent need. But sending food is effective only in very special cases and under certain conditions. The aid can take the place of actual policy against poverty. It is too often driven by donor strategies rather than by the needs of beneficiaries (Holt, 2006, pp. 118-125).

The bulk of food aid is granted by rich countries to developing countries through programs that allow farmers to sell their North surpluses, but which are not favorable to farmers in the South. This food aid is delivered for sale in the national by any State that benefit, resulting in unintended consequences, especially because it competes with local production. It cannot, or should, become sustainable (Lappé, 1977, pp.215-219). This imbalance in local markets, often disrupts eating habits and even worse, in case of conflict, becomes a "weapon" negotiable, source of income for the fighter (Weir, 1981, pp. 32-38).

Solve the problem of hunger by additional free trade poses the risk that a completely free competition prohibits the rural poor countries to produce the right to live. The official development assistance should support the production of food products it has never done. Food aid should be done in moderation so as not to disrupt local markets. The search for food sovereignty is the goal of agricultural policy ...