The other day, I surprised myself by finding the following article by the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/26/world/africa/26senegal.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
This town is actually quite close to my village (roughly 10 km east) and is where the communite rurale is located for our area. The article gives the basic problems of food security in our area.
The price of rice, on a good day right now, is roughly 10,000 cFA* or 20 dollars for a large, 50 kg sack. Lately, during the selling time, rice prices are quite low, making 8 or 9 mil. Yet, they need to sell the rice to pay off the loans from banks, which were taken out to pay for all the imputs (seeds, fertilizer, fuel, etc). When farmers go to buy rice to feed their families, the price will have increased.
It’s hard to see how hard the people work in the villages and then see how little benefit they get from it. For many people, rice is their only form of income. Whole families will share fields, and you can even see small children going out to the fields. Last year was not a good year for rice farmers. The terrible losses impacts the livelihood of everyone in the village. Less money means less food for the family, fewer resources to be able to buy “basic” needs like medicine when sick and soap. Children and pregnant women --really everyone-- is more likely to be malnourished and more susceptible to disease. It is frustrating for me to see the people around me work so hard, yet have to continue to struggle because of the global market or a bad harvest.
Very interesting blog post (and link)... I hope this year turns out okay for the rice farmers.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary,
ReplyDeleteGreat to read another post of yours.
It must be frustrating for you to see how hard they work and may get so little in return, like so many small farmers everywhere. I hope they do well.
I was looking at your last post again. Your photos are incredible, the women and the colors of their clothing are beautiful.
hope you are well.