Simple Innovations Help African Farmers Thrive

SIMPLE INNOVATIONS HELP AFRICAN FARMERS THRIVE Approximately one billion people live in chronic hunger and more than one bilion live in extreme poverty. Most are small farmers in the developing world. Helping these farming families to be more productive is one proven solution to reducing poverty and hunger. Simple solutions like the ones shown here are helping make a difference in the lives of smallholder farmers and their families. Better Information Better Seeds Better Tools Better Storage 30% 50% PROTECTS TEACHES MORE YIELD IN DROUGHT-PRONE AREAS MORE AFFORDABLE FARMERS TO CROPS FROM INSECTS THAN MOTORIZED PUMPS INCREASE YIELDS Working with radio stations in five African countries, aradio project has reached 39 million farmers with valuable Information on a range of agricultural techniques to help farmers improve their productivity and access to markets. New and improved maize (corn) varieties that can survive on less water are already helping more than 2 million smalholder farmers in Africa get higher yields and incomes. Instead of buying motorized pumps that are costly and difficuilt to maintain, farmers are using "foot power" to operate treade pumps that can Special storage bags cost only 52 and protect cowpea crops from destructive insects. Since 2007, more than one million bags have been sold, saving harvests for thousands of farmers. lift water from 20 feet below the surface. The proportion of UNDER- WEIGHT INFANTS DECREASED The population Iving in POVERTY FELL from 52 percent in 1991-92 to 28.5 percent in 2005-2006. GROWING SUCCESS IN GHANA 75% CHILD MALNUTRITION Facing severe food shortages in the mid-1980s, the Ghanaian government increased investments to help rebuild the nation's agricultural system. Through this effort, farmers received technical advice, seeds, fertliaer, ways to manage insects and disease, and gained access to new markets. HUNGER LEVELS DROPPED 50% Chana has been REDUCED by almost 50 percent since the end of the 1980s. from 30 percent in 1988 to 17 percent in 2008. by 75 percent between 1990 2368 2006- 2008 and 2004. Go00, N FAATNERSHP WITH THE ĐLLAMELINDA GATES FOUNDATION SOURCE BLLA MELNDA GATES FOUNDATION