CASE: That we should abolish federal government food aid to Africa.

Background:

Currently the US provides about $3.7 billion a year in food aid to Africa.
Food aid refers specifically to the provision of physical food supplies usually, this is
a blind trust agreement wherein the US government just transfers these food supplies
to the government of the country they are providing the aid to.
We believe that this actually has net detriments to Africa.
Therefore, we stand for a gradual drawing down of federal government food aid to
Africa over the next decade
Real question of the debate: what is best for the people of Africa
Caveats:
o Emergency humanitarian aid in the event of disasters will still be provided
o Developmental aid and technical assistance can still be provided.
o Aid from NGOs can still be provided

a) Food aid cripples the agricultural economy of African countries

We believe that the provision of food aid completely undermines the agricultural
industries of African countries.
o Large amounts of food are shipped to these African countries and dumped there
basically flooding the market
o Since its aid people dont pay for it
o Local farmers cant compete with a good that costs $0 cant sell their crops
hundreds of thousands of tons of excess crops rotting in storehouses in
countries like Ethiopia and Senegal
Remember that subsistence agriculture has traditionally been the major
method of survival in Africa any claims that Africa systematically
cannot produce crops are bogus
o Entrenches the cycle of poverty
When the farmers cannot sell, they cannot earn enough money to
increase production can barely grow enough to feed themselves + add
on the uncertainty involved in agricultural production and any little
thing can tip them over the edge into starvation
Thus, the gradual withdrawal of food aid actually helps the agricultural sector to get
back on its feet.
o As demand for their crops slowly but steadily increases, farmers will
gradually be able to earn more and spend more money starts flowing
through the economy generally
o 60% of the workforce is directly involved in agriculture this helps them to start
earning, buying and selling

b) Food aid empowers corrupt individuals

 The way in which federal government food aid is distributed is essentially a blind trust
agreement
No oversight + no interest in increasing oversight:
o Food aid is provided not out of a moral obligation to Africans, but due to
pressure from the American farm lobby to buy up excess supply and dump it
elsewhere to prevent a glut domestically
o Transport of food aid already costs twice as much as the food aid itself no
actual interest in ensuring aid reaches people
Often, the aid is transferred into the hands of the government
o But in many developing countries the government does not have complete
control local warlords do, and even if the government does, some governments
are corrupt
o Use of food aid as a tool of political coercion
o Because of the lack of a domestic sustainable agricultural economy people
have become dependent on foreign food aid no choice but to obey or
starve
Thus the giving of federal food aid actually empowers corrupt individuals, allowing
them to stay in power against the wishes of the people gives them a tool to threaten
people with
Fundamentally undemocratic and does not allow for actual development and
improvement in local conditions

c) Food aid creates a reality and a mindset of dependency

Basically a state dependent on foreign aid

The local government now has no incentive to develop sustainable self-reliant
policies of growth makes it reliant on other countries
o Vulnerable to shocks and movements in foreign markets
o Lose control over prices and supplies
o Vulnerable to the whims of foreign governments may suddenly decide to go
cold turkey on aid to force compliance on certain international issues, for
instance
The lack of economic development also leads to a lack of political development
o People can only worry about democracy and representation when they can meet
their basic requirements for living
o Thus food aid, by keeping the economy underdeveloped, forces the locals to
focus on staying alive cannot begin to think about democratisation
o Allows governments which may not have the popular mandate to stay in power
and institute policies which may not be in the best interests of the people