Global perspective…

Map of undernourished people broken down by country. See larger copy.

For the majority of people living in the developing world, livelihoods are invariably linked to the land on which they live.  Survival depends upon good crop yields that will feed families and communities, and agricultural production is greatly influenced by climate, water availability, disease, and extreme weather conditions. 

Poor weather is problematic for all food-producers, but the difference between a developing world farmer and his counterpart in the developed world is that the former often does not have the savings and resources needed to replant in the event of crop failure.  Limited access to fertile land and increasing marginalization of small scale farmers makes a sustainable harvest difficult to attain.  Furthermore, due to a lack of access to improved farming methods and technology that utilize principles of agroecology and sustainable agriculture, problems of soil depletion pose an additional challenge. 

The myth that there is not enough food for everyone on earth persists to this day.  In reality, however, starvation is not the result of food production shortages, but rather of inequitable food distribution.  Millions of people lack access to adequate nutrition not because of scarcity, but because of economic limitations as well as governmental and agricultural policy failures. 

Sri Lankan plantation workers collecting tea leaves on the hillside.

Due to political and economic influences, much of the food produced in developing countries does not stay within their domestic borders but is exported to foreign markets.  While exports represent cash inputs to the economy, the distribution of income is often skewed such that large landholders benefit, while subsistence farmers continue to struggle. This lack of local food distribution produces starving nations.

Rural subsistence farmers are all too familiar with the link between the environment and human development.  Issues such as access to arable land and sufficient water for their crops and livestock are a constant source of worry and concern.  Without reliable access to water comes an acute sense of vulnerability.  Nowhere is the need to develop effective strategies to deal with agricultural challenges more pressing than in an area dependent upon rain-fed agriculture, where unpredictable rainfall patterns can wreak havoc on local populations.  In countries where the majority of people rely on agricultural production for their livelihoods, water shortages can translate into a major human development threat. 

Everyone deserves…

The supply of draft animals will allow these farmers in Afghanistan to cultivate their land.

Everyone deserves access to resources that sustain livelihoods.  These resources include tools, seeds, and access to an evolving knowledge of improved cultivation techniques and practices.  If resources such as draft animals or knowledge about composting are not made available, maintaining an agricultural livelihood can prove difficult or impossible.  By providing access to knowledge and resources, a sense of control is gained by the people living in areas susceptible to unpredictable weather patterns.

HOPE International Development Agency works with the rural poor in developing countries to identify the best cultivation practices for generating higher and more reliable yields in a sustainable manner.  To this end, HOPE builds on existing indigenous knowledge and works in partnership with communities to find solutions that cater to their self-identified needs.

Additionally, securing access to safe and reliable water resources is of critical importance for rural communities.  By creating wells and capping springs close to farming villages, safe water can be provided for entire communities.   

Where there is HOPE

The use of terracing as a sustainable agriculture technique is used to reduce soil erosion.

Providing education and resources for agricultural workers in the developing world contributes to workers’ sense of stability as they gain knowledge and control of their own futures.  Environmental factors are considered in order to ensure long term viability of development projects.  Addressing environmental issues such as soil erosion, land degradation, and water pollution ensures crop yields are reliable and sustainable.  

HOPE is currently working with the following programs:

• Dry rice farming in Cambodia
• Agricultural training and watershed management in India and the Dominican Republic
• Agroforestry in the Central African Republic
• Agricultural training in South Africa

Help HOPE with these agricultural or environmental projects.