"Local food production is vital"

Ireland’s historic relationship with the land makes us uniquely placed to appreciate the importance of local food production in the fight against hunger and poverty in Africa.

Speaking following her recent visit with Self Help Africa to Zambia, TV presenter Kathryn Thomas said that the relationship with the land was one that we understood well in this country.

'If there’s not a basic support structure for small-holder farming, there is a fundamental missing link in Africa’s development”, she said.

Acknowledging that the famine currently gripping Somalia and other parts of East Africa required an emergency response, the RTE broadcaster said that while the public would again dig deep to help the millions affected by the current crisis, “investing in African agriculture makes sense from an economic standpoint”.

“The World Bank has stated that growth in agriculture is at least twice as effective in reducing poverty as growth in any other sector”, she added.

Urging support for the long term development work that Self Help Africa is doing across Africa, Kathryn Thomas said that she saw and heard numerous stories in Zambia from people who were proud of their achievements. “They are thankful to Self Help Africa for giving them a hand up, not a hand out”.

“These projects are working at a grassroots level. They are about empowerment and self-belief”, Kathryn said.

To support Self Help Africa's efforts to eradicate famine and hunger in Africa click on the button (right).

BURKINA FASO ETHIOPIA GHANA KENYA MALAWI TOGO UGANDA ZAMBIA

Self Help Africa - UK
Second Floor, Westgate House,Dickens Court,
Hills Lane, Shrewsbury, SY1 1QU
Tel. +44 (0) 1743 277170

Self Help Africa - Ireland
Kingsbridge House, 17-22 Parkgate Street,
Dublin 8, Co. Dublin, Ireland
Tel. +353 (0)1 6778880

Self Help Africa Inc.
41 Union Square West, Suite 631
New York, NY 10003, USA
Tel. +1 212 206 0847

Self Help Africa is an international charity registered in Ireland and the United Kingdom Registered charity number: 6663 (Ireland), and 298830 (UK)
Self Help Africa is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organisation in the United States.