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Ifad seeks access to global markets for small farms

maize

Farmers harvest maize at Moiben in Uasin Gishu County. FILE PHOTO | NMG

International Fund for Agricultural Development (Ifad) is working with private companies across the world to come up with innovative ways to connect small-scale farmers to global markets.

Ifad president Gilbert Houngbo in an interview in Brasilia, Brazil, during an agricultural conference last week said small farmers have the potential of marketing their products across borders.

The conference brought together over 300 participants, among them researchers, farmers and government officials from across the world. “There is need to identify best practices to scale up production and get access of market,” he said.

He said investing in the youth is essential to stem global migration and reduce hunger across the world.

“Ensuring the youth have access to finances to invest in agricultural technologies will reduce hunger by over 50 per cent,” he said.

Currently, over 20 million people have been facing starvation in the Horn of Africa in the last two years due to climate change related issues.