Sustainable Agriculture
In the past, agriculture, forestry, and infrastructure in developing
countries often have had negative impacts on the environment. It is estimated
that in the next 20 years, farmers in developing countries will have
to nearly double their productivity to provide sufficient food for a
healthy and active population. This will require effective management
of natural resources for agriculture and an understanding of the patterns
and processes that influence resource availability. If not, we may do
irreversible harm to the ecosystem and threaten the long-term economic
viability of many countries.
USAID is supporting approaches to agriculture that are ecologically
sound, economically viable, and socially responsible. Angolan farmers
who have adopted sustainable agricultural technologies are increasing
their basic food production. The development of a wastewater treatment
and water reuse facility in Morocco is helping farmers stretch even further
their limited supply of water for irrigation. An Albanian watershed assessment
is helping to improve mining, agricultural, grazing and forestry practices
in ways that will reduce flooding and sediment deposition in that country.
The use of sound environmental practices in agriculture can contribute
to both poverty alleviation and food security.
Sound environmental management has become a key aspect of agricultural
development programs at USAID. By integrating the use of sustainable
resource management practices into agricultural programs, farmers and
rural communities are able to increase their agricultural productivity
and competitiveness. By doing so, developing countries can build efficient
and competitive economies that will not destroy the productive base on
which they depend on over the long term.
Sound natural resource management strategies must also rely on sound
economic policies. The emergence of global markets provides opportunities
for countries to adopt better natural resource management and agricultural
practices. USAID projects such as “Green seal” certified
forests in Guatemala focus on the economic aspects of integrating natural
resource management into agriculture.
Finally, good governance is crucial to managing natural resources. Underdevelopment,
environmental degradation, poverty, and famine result not so much from
a lack of natural wealth, but from the distribution of resources and
citizen rights. Mismanagement of natural resources can contribute to
conflict and corruption. With support from USAID, More people in developing
countries are gaining property rights over land and natural resources.
In doing so, individuals, communities, and institutions become more accountable
for taking care of their resources. Farmer and herder communities in
Mali, for example, are working together to mange the land resources upon
which they both depend through training in resource management, conflict
mediation, financial planning, and literacy.
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