The Real Cause Of Famine In Ethiopia - Statistical Data Included

Ecologist, The, Sept, 2000 by Michel Chossudovsky

In return, US surpluses of genetically engineered maize (banned by the European Union) were being dumped on the Horn of Africa in the form of emergency aid. The US had found a convenient mechanism for 'laundering its stocks of dirty grain'. The agribusiness conglomerates not only cornered Ethiopia's commodity exports, they were also involved in the procurement of emergency shipments of grain back into Ethiopia. During the 1998-2000 famine, lucrative maize contracts were awarded to giant GM grain merchants such as Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) and Cargill Inc.

US grain surpluses peddled in war-torn countries also served to weaken the agricultural system. Some 500,000 tonnes of maize and maize products were 'donated' in 1999-2000 by USAID to agencies including the World Food Programme (WFP) which in turn collaborates closely with the US Department of Agriculture. At least 30 per cent of these shipments (procured under contract with US agribusiness firms) were surplus GMO grain stocks.

Boosted by the border war with Eritrea and the plight of thousands of refugees, the influx of contaminated food aid contributed to the pollution of Ethiopia's genetic pool of indigenous seeds and landraces. In a cruel irony, the food giants were at the same time gaining control -- through the procurement of contaminated food aid -- over Ethiopia's seed banks. According to South Africa's Biowatch: "Africa is treated as the dustbin of the world... To donate untested food and seed to Africa is not an act of kindness but an attempt to lure Africa into further dependence on foreign aid".

Moreover, part of the 'food aid' was channelled under the 'food for work' programme which served to further discourage domestic production in favour of grain imports. Under this scheme, impoverished and landless farmers were contracted to work on rural infrastructural programmes in exchange for 'donated' US corn. Meanwhile, the cash earnings of coffee smallholders plummeted. Whereas Pioneer Hi-Bred positioned itself in seed distribution and marketing, Cargill Inc established itself in the markets for grain and coffee through its subsidiary Ethiopian Commodities.

For the more than 700,000 smallholders with less than two hectares that produce between 90 and 95 per cent of the country's coffee output, the deregulation of agricultural credit combined with low farmgate prices of coffee led to increased indebtedness and land forfeiture, which in turn resulted in increased landlessness, particularly in East Gojam (Ethiopia's breadbasket).

Biodiversity up for sale

The country's extensive reserves of traditional seed varieties (barley, teff, chick peas, sorghum, etc) were being appropriated, genetically manipulated and patented by the agribusiness conglomerates: "Instead of compensation and respect, Ethiopians today are... getting bills from foreign companies that have 'patented' native species and now demand payment for their use".

The foundations of a 'competitive seed industry' were laid under IMF and World Bank auspices. The Ethiopian Seed Enterprise (ESE), the government's seed monopoly joined hands with Pioneer Hi-Bred in the distribution of hi-bred and GMO seeds (together with hybrid resistant herbicide) to smallholders. In turn, the marketing of seeds was transferred to a network of private contractors and 'seed enterprises' with financial support and technical assistance from the World Bank. The 'informal' farmer-to-farmer seed exchange was slated to be converted under the World Bank programme into a 'formal' market oriented system of 'private seed producer-sellers'.