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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen-Agriculture 98, 1998-03-18, Page 43n FOR ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL NEEDS! I I Residential Commercial n n Industrial 24 HR. EMERGENCY SERVICE MONTGOMERY'S COMFORT CENTRE LTD. Hwy. #4 Just South Of Wingham (519) 357-4300 or 1-888-357-4301 1213 Goderich St., Port Elgin (519) 832-2026 THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 1998. PAGE A-23. Agriculture '98 Situation in North Korea continues to worsen several countries, though attention is often focused on the most devas- tating examples of hunger. Once thought of as the most des- perate, in need of constant aid, India and China are now well on their way to self-sufficiency. The cries for help from Ethiopia in the late 1980s have now quieted as the end of the war came in 1991. Improved weather conditions and excellent crops for two years have reduced the need for assistance. While some may see food aids as a bandaid solution, Foodgrains said the relief gives the population the opportunity to concentrate their efforts on endeavours other than looking for food. Villagers and farmers are paid in food for work done to develop dams, dig wells build roads for transportation of goods and plant trees to slow erosion. Close monitoring by Foodgrains and their members results in 95 per cent of donations making it to those who most need help. The organization Food Grains Bank has numerous partnerships to ensure its continued success. The grassroots of the effort is indicated by the more than 10,000 church congregations participating in the project. They are connected through 13 members: Adventist Development and Relief Agency, Canadian Bap- tist Ministries, Canadian Lutheran World Relief, Christian and Mis- sionary Alliance, Christian Reformed World Relief Commit- tee, Church of Nazarene Canada, Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada, Mennonite Central Com- mittee Canada, Pentecostal Assem- blies of Canada, Presbyterian World Services and Development, The Salvation Army, United Church of Canada and World Relief Canada. Though relying strongly on local community input Canadian Food- grains Bank has partnerships with several large organizations which contribute greatly to the cause. The unique collaboration with the Canadian Wheat Board and other grain industry groups allows Foodgrains to collect grain and other agricultural products from farmers across the prairies and Ontario. Grain donations from these CONTINUED FROM A-22 frequent interruptions in the food supply, the situation in North Korea continues to worsen as it is ineligible for assistance from most western countries. Massive floods in 1995 and poor weather through 1996 and 1997, have caused major food shortages. It is predicted that by the winter of 1998, it could be at epidemic pro- portions. Frequent recipients of Foodgrains Bank goods are African countries. Civil strife in Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire) have left millions of citizens as refugees. In the current year, Canadian Foodgrains Bank sees the greatest need in North Korea, Afghanistan, Kenya, Angola, Liberia, Guinea, Eritrea, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Sier- ra Leone. Unfortunately, many of these countries continue to require assis- tance because of war and unstable governments. The reason Though poverty is often the cause of hunger, there are several factors contributing to this. In many cases, there is a lack of economic opportunity, political dis- empowerment, income inequality, inadequate public social spending, violence, environmental degrada- tion and discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender or age. Foodgrains Bank estimates that one quarter of the world's popula- tion (1.3 billion) lives in complete poverty, earning less than a dollar a day. Of the 1.3 billion, 70 per cent are women. While 150,000 to 200,000 die each year from famine, 34,000 chil- dren under five, die each day from hunger and preventable diseases. In the past 30 years, there have been signs of hope on some conti- nents, though others have contin- ued to fall farther behind. The overall number of people affected by hunger fell from 918 million to 841 million between 1970 and 1992 though there was 13 per cent more in Africa. South Asia realized a decline in the per cent of the population suffering from hunger. The goal Though often questioned about the benefits of food aid, the Cana- dian Foodgrains Bank said there are indications of improvement in What a donation can accomplish According to Canadian Food- grains Bank, with no matching funds from the Canadian Interna- tional Development Agency (usu- ally four to one) -one tonne of grain will feed approximately 2,500 per day -50 kg. of corn will feed 125 people for one day -$100 cash donation will feed a family of five (two adults and three children) for three months Note: all information obtained from Canadian Foodgrains Bank has been able to meet time, location consideration for race, creed, cies allows Foodgrains Bank to work in conjunction with food pro- and commodity goals. Associations with member agen- colour or political affiliation Grains may call Ralph deVries, 523-4455; Keith Loder, 523-4777; Anyone interested in Food grams in developing countries. Eric Nonkes, 523-4807 or David Through these channels, the food and Kathryn Mayberry, 519-485- gets to those most in need, with no 3642. COOK'S - Everything you need for Spring NOVARTIS FORAGES NOVARTIS SEED CORN N17-05 2600 H.U. The ONLY Alfalfas that are WES-GRO® processed G4046 2650 H.U. and NOCULIZED®. Ready to plant from the bag! G4064 2700 H.U. We also offer NOCULIZED® clovers, and a wide N2555Bt 2700 H.U. choice of grasses, straight or available in custom ® N3030Bt 2850 H.U. forage mixtures to meet your specific needs. The Results Speak For Themselves ALSO: MOST VARIETIES OF WHITE BEANS, SOYBEANS & SPRING GRAIN SEED - INCLUDING QUANTUM SPRING WHEAT * DRY FERTLIZER SPREADERS ` DRY & LIQUID FERTILIZER DELIVERY ' COMPLETE LINE OF CHEMICALS * TWO CERTIFIED CROP ADVISORS ON STAFF IN WALTON * GREAT SERVICE - COMPETITIVE PRICES * , ,.., l ' i k * , ,re ,1 ,.y i ..r* ‘, JOHN DEERE HI-BOY ONE Our New TERRA-GATOR & spray • PPI & PRE HERBICIDES WITH FERTILIZER ON CORN • NITROGEN APPLICATION WITH BUCTRIL-M - ON WHEAT • FERTLIZER & BURNDOWN ON NO-TILL SOYS PASS IS ALL IT TAKES bulk fertilizer (NPR) ONE PASS! can apply your for weed control in ' , , Ion .. ---------- _. ,:- r''.. . 1 \,4 _ •.$ :11 ' ,......., ' .r ',el % ' T ' r 1- ..,.-__ ..,-. ! , , ., • - at 887.9261 or 1.800.786.1476 Statistics on hunger -39 per cent of Africans (219 million) live in absolute poverty with average earnings of 85 cents per day -43 per cent of South Asian (515 million) live in absolute poverty, with average daily earn- ings of 87 cents -poverty rate in east and south- east Asia dropped from 23 per cent to 14 per cent (26 million) between 1987 and 1993 -rates in Latin American and the Carribbean rose 10 per cent to 110 million between 1990 and 1993 Note: all information obtained from Canadian Foodgrains Bank sources has averaged 14,000 to 16,000, annually. A pilot project is also being undertaken to use other non-gov- ernmental agencies to aid in the delivery of food to various coun- tries. Co-operation with the World Food Programme (WFP), a United Nations organization, Foodgrains OSCIA pledges support to east Local Soil and Crop Improvement Associations (SCIA) • in eastern Ontario who persevered the winter ice storm will soon see more financial relief. The provincial directors of the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) recently pledged $5,000 from their provincial coffers, and encouraged their local associations all across Ontario to build the fund even higher. The contributions will be tallied in mid-April, then divided appropriately amongst the affected counties. Local members will decide how best to utilize the relief funds. Denis Perrault, newly elected president of OSCIA and a farmer in Russell County, said, "Farmers helping farmers is not a new concept to rural Ontario. Our provincial directors were eager to lend the association's financial support." How the money is utilized is up to the local SCIA.