Saving Niger: Food Security

Gary Eilerts, Program Manager, USAID Office of Food for Peace in the Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance Bureau, discusses the how the record 2005 food prices in Nigeria siphoned Nigers production. Prices rose to record levels in Niger, which lead to the worst malnutrition in Nigers most productive agricultural areas on southern border. Small farmers there increasingly oriented to the market, especially Nigerias. Many have sold land, live on seasonal day-labor wages, buy their food in markets, and are dependent upon loans. Eilerts examines several points to save Niger from future food insecurity: • Improve food utilization • Improve food access • Improve food availability But Nigers next food crisis may not look like that of 2005. Eilerts states that sustained attention to development of economy, water sources, health care, education, etc., is required to keep another famine in Niger, like 2005, at bay.

» View the original video «

YouTube | November 20, 2008

Tags:. .siphoned. .malnutrition. .nigers. .famine. .insecurity