Gates Foundation Gives $306 Million to Agriculture

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced a US$ 306 million package of agricultural grants that aim to increase the yields and improve the incomes of millions of farmers from developing countries. The announcement was made in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

 "If we are serious about ending extreme hunger and poverty around the world, we must be serious about transforming agriculture for small farmers," said Foundation co-chair Bill Gates. "These investments—from improving the quality of seeds, to developing healthier soil, to creating new markets—will pay off not only in children fed and lives saved. They can have a dramatic impact on poverty reduction as families generate additional income and improve their lives."

The foundation will give:

• A US$ 164.5 million program to the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) for the African Soil Health Program,
• A US$ 19.8 million package to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines for the development of stress-tolerant rice for poor farmers in South Asia and Africa,
• US$ 27 million to the International Development Enterprise for the development of micro-irrigation facilities in India,
• US$ 46.9 million to TechnoServe for helping coffee farmers in East Africa increase their incomes,
• US$ 42.8 million to Heifer International for dairy development in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, and 
• A US$ 5.2 million to CARE for the improvement of dairy value chain in Bangladesh.

With the grants, the foundation has nearly doubled its investments in agriculture since the launch of its Global Development Program in 2006. The foundation is expected to continue its efforts in empowering small farmers, investing a total of US$ 900 million through 2008.

The press release is available at http://www.gatesfoundation.org/GlobalDevelopment/Announcements/Announce-070125.htm