Africa: "Charity rejects US food aid gift"

BBC.com ^ | Friday, 17 August 2007 | staff writer

[yankeedame]

Last Updated: Friday, 17 August 2007, 10:00 GMT 11:00 UK

Charity rejects US food aid gift

Care said it did not oppose
emergency food aid during a crisis

The international aid group, Care, has rejected a donation of $45m (£22.7m) from the United States government. Care criticised the way US food aid is distributed, saying it harms local farmers, especially in Africa.

It said wheat donated by the US government and distributed by charities introduced low prices that local farmers are unable to compete with.

But USAid says assessments are carried out to try to ensure that commodities do not disrupt local production.

Correspondents says disagreements have emerged in the US aid community on the best way to use food aid.

"We came to the realisation that if we wanted to do what was in the best interest of poor people and efficiency in aid, that this wasn't it," Care President Helene Gayle told Reuters news agency.

Care said it did not oppose emergency food aid during periods of drought or famine.

But the group said the US government's method of food aid did not help communities which were permanently in need

[ClearCase_guy]

communities which were permanently in need

I'm reminded of an old Sam Kinison quote ...

[Holicheese]

I have always said we should never send wheat, rice or what ever for aid. It should always be food that has been processed in the USA.
Instead of wheat, we send loaves of Wonder Bread. Rice, we send Rice Chex and rice cakes.
We send Twinkees and cup cakes.

[Wonder Warthog]

"But the group said the US government's method of food aid did not help communities which were permanently in need..."

I guess what "Care" wants is a direct government dollar grant that THEY will decide how to spend.

[DoughtyOne]

Well, it’s not a complete fix to the squandering of our wealth around the planet, but it’s a start. LOL

They may have a point here.

[sono]

Care is looking a gift horse in the mouth.

[Larry Lucido]

Sam Kinison

R.I.P., Sam.

[TommyDale]

Perhaps they would rather accept food from China?

[sauropod]

Which is.....?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Care makes an excellent point. Imagine you’re a farmer; you borrow to buy seed, work the soil, raise a crop and are about to sell what you’ve raised. The next day, free food arrives. What’s the value of your crop ?

[OKIEDOC]

Wonder Warthog wrote:
I guess what “Care” wants is a direct government dollar grant that THEY will decide how to spend.

Courtesy Comment;

Hard to steal donations when it comes in a wheat sack with US Aid stamped on the side.

Gives these guys cash and you can guess where the bulk of the money will go.

[gridlock]

You can’t use wheat to buy Mercedes Benz limos for the New York office, so CARE would prefer the donations in cash...

[Moonman62]

I guess what "Care" wants is a direct government dollar grant that THEY will decide how to spend.

This has been a problem for decades. The local farmers can't compete with food that is free. Imagine what American farmers would say if they had to compete with free food.

[thulldud]

First time in a year that I've seen this mentioned -- that food aid depresses local agriculture. It also aggrandizes local warlords where they exist. Best thing for Africa would be for all the aid to just stop.

[ClearCase_guy]

On the subject of food problems in Africa:

MOVE TO WHERE THE FOOD IS!!!!

[Moonman62]

I say we send them Bono instead, provided that no returns are allowed.

[sure_fine]

plant poppies and sell drugs, get food from else where

work for Afghanistan

[sauropod]

Danke.

That’s funny!

[Londo Molari]

“This has been a problem for decades. The local farmers can’t compete with food that is free. Imagine what American farmers would say if they had to compete with free food.”

If there is so much food from local farmers, why do we need to send more?

[fella]

Care makes an excellent point. Imagine you’re a farmer; you borrow to buy seed, work the soil, raise a crop and are about to sell what you’ve raised. The next day, free food arrives. What’s the value of your crop ?

You mean like our farmers and welfare state?