Gates pledges millions to African, Indian farming

Teenia Harmon
10-16-09
11:28 am
Bill Gates has promised 120 million dollars to help small farms in poor countries Africa and India. The “Microsoft co-founder turned philanthropist” announced on Thursday that he wants to promote a sustainable agriculture system that will hopefully lead to more help for the people. The grants are to come from the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, but will work alongside with other specialized agencies. The projects will include educating the people they are helping about proper nutrition, and the use of fertilization. Specifically mentioned was the use of legumes to lessen the amount of children with Vitamin A deficiencies. Gates said “Helping the poorest smallholder farmers grow more and get it to market is the world's single most powerful lever for reducing hunger and poverty”. It would help locals by providing food from a local market instead of importing it. Part of the plan also includes a radio program that promotes sustainable agriculture to the farmers of Africa. In India the fund will be used to enhance women’s standard of living along with increasing agricultural independence. Gates feels that a grant helping agriculture of small countries could improve the lives of their people all around. Specific countries that are to be helped include India, Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique, and Zambia along with several other African countries.
While this may not seem to connect with families directly, I think that this donation will have a huge lasting effect on the families that it touches. These small family owned farms are getting help not only for this year’s crop but for years and years to come. They are being taught how best to farm with what they have, not just being given supplies for the coming crop. It is like the old “teach a man to fish” adage. This will allow, not just families, but whole villages to live healthier lives because they are being educated on what thing they need to have. I think it is great that Gates is doing this. So many people have the ability to give but do not, just because they don’t think about it. And I think it is awesome the way he is going about it, teaching them will help them long after the grant is all used up.
Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5htzNcMYsyH8GVLOWFzq4_eo_RLgQ