Farm Subsidies Undermine Poor Farmers

October 16 is World Food Day.

Governments belonging to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) gave $311 billion in subsidies to their agricultural sectors in 2001. These farm subsidies allow food crops exported by farmers in industrial countries to be sold at prices 20-50 percent below the cost of production, undermining farmers in developing nations.

The average person in a developing country selling into world markets confronts barriers that are roughly twice as high as those faced by counterparts in industrial nations.

Source:

High Farm Subsidies Persist, Vital Signs 2003, pp. 96-97.
Foreign Debt Declines, Vital Signs 2003, pp. 46-47.

Worldwatch Links:

Vital Signs Fact of the Week Archive
Vital Signs 2003 press release
Take action: Vital Signs 2003, What You Can Do
More research from Worldwatch

Additional Resources:

Oxfam Make Trade Fair Campaign: http://www.maketradefair.com