Budget cuts undermine UK’s world affect on agriculture, report finds
B
udget cuts have undermined the UK’s worldwide affect on agriculture and the Government should focus extra on local weather change in its assist for the sector, a evaluate by the overseas assist watchdog has discovered.
There is a “significant risk” that Britain’s popularity as a growth ally in areas together with meals safety will “degrade rapidly” within the close to future until adjustments are made, the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) recommended.
In a report revealed on Wednesday, the watchdog discovered “many positive examples” of UK assist to agriculture however stated spending reductions in addition to an absence of clear imaginative and prescient throughout Government departments would hamper the effectiveness of key programmes.
It made 5 suggestions, together with urging the Government to behave to “secure the UK’s influence and thought leadership” on world meals manufacturing and to make sure a concentrate on “climate change and nature” is central to its method.
Budget reductions have additionally undermined the efficiency of some climate-focused programmes geared toward serving to nations like Malawi, the place most livelihoods depend on rain-fed agriculture that’s weak to environmental adjustments, the report discovered.
While our evaluate discovered many examples of fine observe, there may be extra to be achieved to enhance coherence of the general assist package deal and guarantee local weather change and nature are on the coronary heart of the UK’s assist to the agriculture sector
Cuts to official growth help (ODA) have eliminated or downscaled a number of components of those schemes, which embody key initiatives like watershed rehabilitation and crop diversification, it discovered.
“Despite ODA reductions, the UK has retained some capacity to influence partner governments, donors and multilateral institutions,” ICAI stated.
“Although it has lost a significant number of expert agricultural advisers, the UK continues to be viewed as a technically competent development ally.
“However, with funding reduced, the UK has been drawing on this reputation, and there is a significant risk that its influence will degrade rapidly in the near future.”
ICAI chief commissioner Dr Tamsyn Barton, who led the evaluate, stated: “Developing countries are on the front line of the climate crisis so it’s vital that our aid programmes acknowledge this.
“Support for agriculture can empower local communities, generate wealth locally, improve global food security and ensure that people are getting the nutrition they need.
The ICAI’s report shows the UK Government aid approach in agriculture is not only failing to tackle climate change, but is actively contributing to its causes
“While our review found many examples of good practice, there is more to be done to improve coherence of the overall aid package and ensure climate change and nature are at the heart of the UK’s support to the agriculture sector.”
Cafod, the official assist company for the Catholic Church of England and Wales, accused the Government of “pumping money into large-scale agribusiness” as a substitute of specializing in assist for smallholder farmers and native economies.
Graham Gordon, Cafod’s head of public coverage stated: “The ICAI’s report shows the UK Government aid approach in agriculture is not only failing to tackle climate change, but is actively contributing to its causes.
“The tragedy is that we know what works but this isn’t influencing aid spending on agriculture.
“Instead of supporting smallholder farmers and strengthening local economies, the proven approach for tackling both poverty and climate change in agriculture, the Government is now pumping money into large scale agribusiness which means increased usage of fossil fuel fertilisers.
“It is clear we need an urgent review of the Government’s approach to international agriculture.
“It cannot be right that taxpayer money is being used by the British International Investment (BII) without transparency, on harmful practices that contribute to climate change and do little to tackle hunger or poverty.”