Africa and US Farming
Africa is big. Especially these days. And caring about Africa is hip: Brad Pitt, Bono, and Gwyneth Paltrow say so. There is nothing wrong with highlighting Africa, reminding us that we are all interconnected, that Africa’s problems are our problems. As we consider this, though, we would do well to remember that Africa is more than the sum of its problems. And buying a red iPod isn’t going to save the continent, though it might help a little.
Africa is not just the desperate, hopeless, war-torn, and chaotic continent we see portrayed in the news. Just like us, Africans are living their lives; they are entrepreneurs, skilled craftsmen, people with ingenuity, dignity, and hope. They do need our help, but what they need most of all is justice.
Thankfully, the celebs will tell you, donor aid is not really justice. Giving them billions and billions of dollars is not the answer to Africa’s problems. On our end, international trade and debt relief will go much farther. But that is the most difficult of all to give. It’s easier to be the altruist, to help our starving brothers and sisters by sending money and food. We feel good about ourselves-as we should-but it’s not the answer. If Africans are not just to survive, but thrive, they need to be able to competitively produce their own goods and trade on equal footing on the global market. And that means changing the way we do things around here. As Jennifer Brea states:
The only way Africa will develop and create wealth is if it can attract foreign capital and trade its goods on the world market like every other economically successful country does…We can continue the endless cycle of need and dependency, or you can create jobs, develop indigenous capacity, and build a sustainable future.
According to its critics, The US Farm Bill (now in Congress for the first time in five years) stands in the way of a thriving future for Africans. Reforming it is one of the ways we can help Africans help themselves. And in the meantime, we’ll do ourselves a favor, because the Farm Bill contributes to environmental degradation, obesity, and poor eating in America. Just ask Michael Pollan. This is because the federal government gives billions of dollars each year to farmers, the end result of which is overproduction of the five commodities supported, low prices, and cheap food. Internationally, we dump surplus crops, lowering prices so that local farmers around the world can’t compete. (see below for more information)
I’m not an international economist, and I don’t understand these issues fully. After all, the Farm Bill is thousands of pages long. But I do know that people who care about this, and who are economists, see not just an injustice in our protectionism, but an absurdity. Why do we do something that hurts us all so much? I’d encourage you to go find out.
If you care about Africa, the health of our nation, and justice for people around the world, research the Farm Bill and decide for yourself whether it’s a good idea in its present form. I’d love to hear what you think.
For more information, check out:
Oxfam America. Here’s an example.
The WTO and the World Bank. Here’s an example:
The World Bank, which has persistently advocated cutting agricultural subsidies in OECD nations, called 13 May “a sad day for world farmers”. According to its data, cotton exporters in West and Central Africa alone would gain further $US250 million in revenues per annum if the US — the world’s biggest cotton producer — stopped subsidising domestic cotton production. But the increase in US farm support, analysts forecast, could further depress world commodity prices, making imports cheaper than local products in the developing world and ultimately forcing domestic farmers out of business.
Posted on July 16, 2007 12:00 AM
Comments
The Farm Bill is welfare for the white man. It is big government trying to be compassionate. I would like to see the farm bill subsidies eliminated and allow for a true free market system. This will benefit consumers and global producers (Africa). I disagree with Penny about the debt relief. If a country is lacking stability (security) and its leaders are completely corrupt, then a free flow of money will not help the people.
Posted by: Chris | July 16, 2007 5:40 AM
I think Chris raises an excellent point about debt relief. It is an unfortunate truth that even African nations experiencing relative stability have huge problems with corruption at high levels of government. (Kenya is an excellent example.)
The perspective raised in this article is a very interesting counterpoint to the "Buy American" campaign we hear so often.
Posted by: Leisha | July 16, 2007 11:21 AM
Thanks for your comment, Chris. I mostly agree on the first points, though I wouldn't say that it's big government trying to be compassionate. It's big government caught in a quandary. The Farm Bill has been around for about 70 years, and farmers have gotten used to receiving a set price for their product. It's the perfect business (not capitalism): the more you make the more the government pays you (why produce 10 when you could produce 100 and make 10 times as much?).
Before WWII the government had a more efficient system: supporting prices and limiting production.
Here's a great op-ed explaining it a little better: http://www.michaelpollan.com/article.php?id=88
Also, on the debt relief question: I agree that governments need to be accountable to their people otherwise money is squandered while a few are enriched. But here are a few things to consider: during the Cold War when the West wanted to make allies they gave out billions of dollars in questionable loans to governments, some of which were ruled by dictators. Yes, the governments are accountable, but so are we, for lending money so questionably. The international governments and lenders who have agreed to debt relief have imposed a number of restrictions and stipulations to help deal with the problems you discuss. Check out HIPC (go to the IMF or World Bank site) and see all the hoops countries have to jump through before their debt is canceled, including reform and accountability over a period of many years.
An important point for me, beyond what I wrote above, is whether today's children be held responsible for deals that were made 40 years ago. Personally, I wouldn't want to be held responsible if my dictator or President made a bad deal in questionable circumstances and then squandered it all away. I'd be spending so much money on paying back his excesses that I couldn't go to school and couldn't afford to go to the doctor when I was sick. That's not quality of life, and I'm not willing to impose that on people for the sins of their fathers and leaders.
And besides all of that, there's Jubilee. What about God's words regarding debt relief?
Thank you so much for your comments. I hope they spark a lively debate.
Posted by: Penny | July 16, 2007 12:09 PM
Penny - Glad to see you posting about the farm bill. Hope you are well!
I strongly agree with your points about eliminating trade distorting subsidies. The US cotton payment program was ruled as trade distorting back in 2002 by the WTO. Yet, members of the Ag committee are ignoring this ruling in their write up of the 2007 farm bill. A huge coalition of unlikely groups have joined together, seeking broad reform of the 2007 bill - left, right, conservative, liberal. It's fiscally responsible as well as morally imperative for congress to reform the bill. Bread for the World and Oxfam are leading those coalitions. Important action is needed THIS WEEK. Be sure to check out www.bread.org for most current action alert and call congress this week!
On the issue of debt cancellation, it can be VERY effective with proper monitoring and international pressure. I'd encourage everyone to visit Jubilee's website to hear more success stories. When Tanzania received debt relief, they eliminated school fees. As a result, 300,000 kids returned to school - many are young women and girls who were unable to attend school previously. Now that's amazing!
Posted by: Holly Hight | July 16, 2007 5:29 PM
"Africa is not just the desperate, hopeless, war-torn, and chaotic continent we see portrayed in the news. Just like us, Africans are living their lives; they are entrepreneurs, skilled craftsmen, people with ingenuity, dignity, and hope. They do need our help, but what they need most of all is justice."
Well said.
I think the best way to see the way things are, is through ones own two eyes.
Then accepting it is another thing, and how we accept it.
Giving them stuff, and money will help them survive, and as you said, make the givers feel better about themselves...but that will not "fix" anything.
The only way to help people, and really help them, is to make them a way to help themselves.
I read Dons book, "Blue Like Jazz", and I practically feel like i already know you by the way he pulled me into his book.
Posted by: a reader | July 19, 2007 5:37 PM
The Farm bill is just as corrupted by lobbyists as the WTO's refusal to release funds and put a freeze on price gouging to help African farmers. When the World Social Forum was held in Nairobi, most of the indigenous farmers and ranchers came out to protest the destruction of natural resources and the unfairness of "free trade".
Posted by: Jesse | July 21, 2007 4:57 PM
Jesse:
Great point. Would you be willing to write an article about the destructiveness of 'free trade'? I agree, from what I know, but couldn't get into it here. You sound knowledgeable, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject. You know where to send a submission if you're interested. THANKS!
Also, to 'a reader':
Don is a gifted writer, isn't he? I wish I could hear the stories of all the people who have read BLJ, but I think that would take a while! Take care of yourself and keep coming back to burnside! : )
Posted by: Penny | July 23, 2007 2:57 PM
Thank you for the true words.
Bono is taking a lot of flack about handing out "begging bowls" with the red campaign. But below the surface is another model that we should consider: Edun and Edun-Live
Edun-live (run by Bono and his wife) is a t-shirt company who's slogan is "from grower to sewer". The organic cotton is grown and sewn in Africa giving sustainable employment to each portion of the process.
http://www.edun-live.com/
Consider that each of us is responsible to use our money (no matter how meager) in responsible, Christlike ways.
Why not end free trade with China and begin with 2nd and 3rd world countries. Until then I will look for daily items that directly affect Africa, Peru and other countries through "fair-trade" coffee's and clothing from Edun.
Posted by: matt | July 30, 2007 1:06 PM
Beware do-gooder fair trade. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely."
Please read the www.reason.com article, entitled "Absolution in Your Cup: The real meaning of Fair Trade coffee," by
Kerry Howley | March 2006 Print Edition for enlightenment.
Posted by: Christina | August 22, 2007 6:29 PM