Following my previous blog discussing how rich-country agricultural subsidies hurt developing countries in Africa, this video provides a picture of the ways some African farmers are struggling to sustain themselves. While Subsidizing Poverty (Part One) discusses how rich-country subsides contribute to poverty through price depreciation, this video explains how subsidies implemented by poor countries actually help them to grow enough food to feed their families. The clip examines how policies being implemented by the president of Malawi are helping Malawian farmers to grow enough food to be self-sustainable and empowering them to decline imported food from rich countries—the very imports that put local African farmers out of work to begin with.
The video further discusses how agricultural subsidies in the United States hurt the average American farmer as well. Contrary to popular belief, agricultural subsidies in the US largely do not go to the small, struggling American farms; rather they are disbursed to million- and billionaire agribusinesses that do not need the funding! In fact, 10 percent of recipients are awarded 74 percent of the subsidies funding; the top 20 percent receive 89 percent! More details in this regard are forthcoming in Part Two, so enjoy this video and stay tuned!
