This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2013/jun/12/new-alliance-imperialism-monbiot-know-better

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
New alliance as imperialism in another guise? Monbiot should know better New alliance as imperialism in another guise? Monbiot should know better
(4 months later)
On Saturday, at the nutrition for growth summit, we listened to President Joyce Banda of Malawi discuss her commitment to addressing malnutrition in her country. After hearing Banda's plan to leverage investment from the new alliance for food security and nutrition to transform agriculture and create jobs, we are quite surprised to hear George Monbiot's claim that this initiative is another colonial scramble for Africa.On Saturday, at the nutrition for growth summit, we listened to President Joyce Banda of Malawi discuss her commitment to addressing malnutrition in her country. After hearing Banda's plan to leverage investment from the new alliance for food security and nutrition to transform agriculture and create jobs, we are quite surprised to hear George Monbiot's claim that this initiative is another colonial scramble for Africa.
First, the participation, governance and design of the new alliance contradict Monbiot's depiction of imperialism by global powers. The alignment of private investment with African-owned agriculture plans is an explicit aim of the initiative and is delineated in each country's co-operation framework. African countries elect to join – they are not coerced – and the heads of state of the three founding countries were actively engaged in shaping the initiative. The leadership council of the new alliance, its governing body, is co-chaired by Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the African Union chairperson, and includes three prominent African farmers' organisations.First, the participation, governance and design of the new alliance contradict Monbiot's depiction of imperialism by global powers. The alignment of private investment with African-owned agriculture plans is an explicit aim of the initiative and is delineated in each country's co-operation framework. African countries elect to join – they are not coerced – and the heads of state of the three founding countries were actively engaged in shaping the initiative. The leadership council of the new alliance, its governing body, is co-chaired by Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the African Union chairperson, and includes three prominent African farmers' organisations.
The new alliance is also supported by international organisations such as the African Development Bank, the World Food Programme, the International Fund for Agriculture and Development, and the Food and Agriculture Organisation. While the new alliance can and should do more to listen to the voices of African farmers, sensational claims of imperialism are disrespectful and disempowering to this core of African leaders, who champion the interests of their continent unwaveringly.The new alliance is also supported by international organisations such as the African Development Bank, the World Food Programme, the International Fund for Agriculture and Development, and the Food and Agriculture Organisation. While the new alliance can and should do more to listen to the voices of African farmers, sensational claims of imperialism are disrespectful and disempowering to this core of African leaders, who champion the interests of their continent unwaveringly.
Second, ONE's analysis refutes the notion that the new alliance is dominated by multinational companies guilty of exploiting farmers. African companies, many of which are small- or medium-sized enterprises, comprise a large percentage of total new alliance investments. At the nutrition for growth event, DfID announced that the 53 African companies comprised the majority of more than 70 investments in the three newest countries to join the new alliance.Second, ONE's analysis refutes the notion that the new alliance is dominated by multinational companies guilty of exploiting farmers. African companies, many of which are small- or medium-sized enterprises, comprise a large percentage of total new alliance investments. At the nutrition for growth event, DfID announced that the 53 African companies comprised the majority of more than 70 investments in the three newest countries to join the new alliance.
Moreover, ONE's in-depth analysis of the companies' letters of intent found that new alliance investments treat smallholder farmers not as buyers of multinational companies' products, but rather as entrepreneurs selling their own agricultural products. The bulk of the investments entail companies sourcing more crops from smallholder farmers. For instance, many food processing companies include goals to double the amount of product they source from smallholders, while at the same time providing training and better inputs, such as hybrid seeds or mechanisation, to improve output. Such investments are crucial for the millions of African smallholder farmers aiming to escape poverty and move from subsistence to scale.Moreover, ONE's in-depth analysis of the companies' letters of intent found that new alliance investments treat smallholder farmers not as buyers of multinational companies' products, but rather as entrepreneurs selling their own agricultural products. The bulk of the investments entail companies sourcing more crops from smallholder farmers. For instance, many food processing companies include goals to double the amount of product they source from smallholders, while at the same time providing training and better inputs, such as hybrid seeds or mechanisation, to improve output. Such investments are crucial for the millions of African smallholder farmers aiming to escape poverty and move from subsistence to scale.
Third, Monbiot's analysis of the policy reforms central to the new alliance is striking for what it leaves out. A closer look at Mozambique's co-operation framework reveals a different story from the narrow, land-grabbing narrative weaved by Monbiot. Mozambique's policy reform states that, as part of the new alliance, "Mozambique is securing rural land tenure and facilitating access to land for smallholder farmers, women, youth and private enterprise." Weak land tenure systems and land policy rights for women and smallholder farmers are a major challenge across Africa, which policy reforms like Mozambique's seek to address.Third, Monbiot's analysis of the policy reforms central to the new alliance is striking for what it leaves out. A closer look at Mozambique's co-operation framework reveals a different story from the narrow, land-grabbing narrative weaved by Monbiot. Mozambique's policy reform states that, as part of the new alliance, "Mozambique is securing rural land tenure and facilitating access to land for smallholder farmers, women, youth and private enterprise." Weak land tenure systems and land policy rights for women and smallholder farmers are a major challenge across Africa, which policy reforms like Mozambique's seek to address.
Moreover, restrictive seed policy environments are detrimental to farmers' access to improved seed varieties, limiting their productive potential. Seed policy reforms pursued by new alliance countries are designed to make the local seed market flourish and enable smallholder farmers to access the same types of improved seeds that raise yields and income levels, which more productive farmers take for granted elsewhere in the world.Moreover, restrictive seed policy environments are detrimental to farmers' access to improved seed varieties, limiting their productive potential. Seed policy reforms pursued by new alliance countries are designed to make the local seed market flourish and enable smallholder farmers to access the same types of improved seeds that raise yields and income levels, which more productive farmers take for granted elsewhere in the world.
Banda, who was recently heralded by FAO chief José Graziano da Silva for her efforts to combat hunger, cleared the air when she closed by saying: "I look at the new alliance as a strategy to accelerate investment in agriculture. I had the opportunity to listen to some of the experiences of countries that are already in the new alliance like Ethiopia, Ghana, and Tanzania, and it was very clear that they benefited from their participation including increased volumes of investment in agriculture from foreign and local investors, creation of jobs, boosting of markets domestically and internationally. I have stated that my government will commit a bigger part of the budget to fight hunger, malnutrition and poverty."Banda, who was recently heralded by FAO chief José Graziano da Silva for her efforts to combat hunger, cleared the air when she closed by saying: "I look at the new alliance as a strategy to accelerate investment in agriculture. I had the opportunity to listen to some of the experiences of countries that are already in the new alliance like Ethiopia, Ghana, and Tanzania, and it was very clear that they benefited from their participation including increased volumes of investment in agriculture from foreign and local investors, creation of jobs, boosting of markets domestically and internationally. I have stated that my government will commit a bigger part of the budget to fight hunger, malnutrition and poverty."
This position is consistent with the vision expressed by Banda to ONE during our meeting in February 2013. Instead of perpetuating ill-informed stereotypes, we should be spending much more time listening to bold, reform-minded leaders like Banda as well as African companies and farmers – and taking concerted steps to support them with the investments, capacity, and policy reforms for which they are asking.This position is consistent with the vision expressed by Banda to ONE during our meeting in February 2013. Instead of perpetuating ill-informed stereotypes, we should be spending much more time listening to bold, reform-minded leaders like Banda as well as African companies and farmers – and taking concerted steps to support them with the investments, capacity, and policy reforms for which they are asking.
• Molly Kinder is director for agriculture and nutrition policy at ONE and Nachilala Nkombo is deputy director of ONE Africa• Molly Kinder is director for agriculture and nutrition policy at ONE and Nachilala Nkombo is deputy director of ONE Africa
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.