World Bank Praising Niger Government?!

by Uwe Paschen | November 22, 2008 at 06:27 pm

660 views | 35 Recommendations | 13 comments

A communiqué from the World Bank Earlier this week has been praising the government of Niger for its good governance and transparency as it handed over another $7 Million Dollar US in aid to the Niger Government in Niamey.

4000 tons of fertilizer where given to Niger in order to boost its Rice Production, this is part of a $1.2 Billion Dollar US Global food aid program to counter the global food crisis. Ironically or with out surprise all this aid is going to the South, affecting Niamey the Capital and Maradi a large city in the south of the country, yet it does not help the North nor other areas of the country in any way.

Further the program gives Fertilizer to the Southern part of Niger for its Rice production along the Niger River, now for those that know the area and know Agriculture, this makes no sense what so ever. Since the sediment left behind by the floods in February of the Niger River give more then adequate nutrient to the Rice production and the Life stock manure does give the supplement needed if any where to be needed.

This program may result in more pollution of the drinking water, with excess of nitrates and Phosphorus giving gross to an excess of alleges and subsequently killing the fish population as well as contaminating drinking water.

The World Bank may feel good and pat itself on the back for being so Humanitarian and yet should be severely condemned for its action that in the long run will cause more harm then good. This is another feel good, make up, action that wont help any one and can only make things worth in the long run for the country and its people as well as there environment.

Truly bad Agricultural management practices promoted with Tax Payers Money and implemented by organizations whose practices have been proven more then questionable over the past 3 decades and yet are still holding the rains of Politics and finances through out the World.

This may very well plunge Niger into a new crisis and dilemma and cause more poverty and injustices as is, due to miss management and pressures from international organizations such as the all mighty and Powerful World Bank and the IMF, that dictate there will with out proper studies nor keeping count of the environment and long term consequences of their action.

Now, I am not much of a supporter of the Niger government and yet in this case I have to say, there is not much they can do since they do have to comply and follow World Banks as well as IMF orders so they may stay or remain in good standing and keep their line of credit and well as receive further money and aid down the road.

It does not help those countries to be enslaved by the World Bank nor by the IMF and may be grand time for some emancipation here. Following the Libyan model, even though, his leader is more then just controversial, may be well advised especially for Niger, being rather rich in Oil and Uranium as well as Gold and Salt Mines through out the country, however not to good on Human rights and even less on minority rights.

The main question would be, how come we still allow the World Bank and the IMF to hold such power and in the wake of the financial debacle and miss management how can it be that we have not yet question there methods even less reformed those institutions completely or dismantled them all together.?

http://my.nowpublic.com/world/tuareg-hope-mali-despair-niger

http://my.nowpublic.com/world/niger-freedom-press-only-illusion

Source.:

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/MUMA-7LL56M?OpenDocument

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend Sign In or Join to post comments

Amy Judd

at 18:39 on November 22nd, 2008

I had no idea any of this was going on. It just looks so good on the surface... thanks.

Uwe Paschen

at 18:46 on November 22nd, 2008

It does, does it not. It does anger me and I would like to be there in there board room meetings... Open their eyes and move what ever conscience they may have left.
Thank you for the read Amy and input as well as the R here, much appreciated.

panzerlawyer

at 19:57 on November 22nd, 2008

Tat just goes to show how whacky the world bank is. Maybe they got an e mail from an heir in Nigeria and think the $200,000,000 they sent the guy in the e mail secured an interest in the trillion dollar will.

Uwe Paschen

at 23:19 on November 22nd, 2008

Niger not to be confused with Nigeria. Two very distinct Countries.

Thank you for the comment and visit here, much appreciated.

Miriam Mannak

at 00:48 on November 23rd, 2008

I have no problems with boosting a country's local food production and increasing its food security. But it needs to be done in a proper and sustainable way, and in a manner that all people benefit from the 'gift'. This development does not seem to meet these points.

Thanks for this post - very interesting ..

Uwe Paschen

at 01:02 on November 23rd, 2008

You are correct with your statement here Miriam and why I bring the issue up. This miss management will result in less food production in the long run and further water contamination as well as other major problems. It is a disaster in the making for wish, as usual the people will have to pay dearly and not the ruling class nor the IMF or the WB.

Thank you for the read and comment here. Much appreciated.

Miriam Mannak

at 01:07 on November 23rd, 2008

:) No worries. I once read a story about the prawn industry in Asia. I think it was China. Prawns are usually 'cultivated' in mangroves, but to keep bugs and diseases at bay, the producers use large quantities of anti-biotics and other 'additives'. The problem is that mangroves are a very sensitive type of vegetation. Many of them have died because of it.

Fertilizers are not per definition a problem, but when used in a bad way (too much / too often / etc) it can have a devastating impact on ecosystems.

It is quite unfortunate that the World bank did not think of this ... You might assume they would as the organization is ran by allegedly intelligent people.

Uwe Paschen

at 02:11 on November 23rd, 2008

Fertilizer can help in the short run and only if used properly, However in the long run they destroy the soil and contaminate the water, further down they cause the Fauna to be stressed and affected. see. :

http://my.nowpublic.com/environment/desertification-part-ii-history-sahara-desert-attempt-stop-desertification

http://my.nowpublic.com/environment/farming-out-drugs-and-pesticides-possible

Now, in Niger I have seen farmers use DTT powder that is suppose to be diluted pure and with their own hands spread over the plant (keep in mind that DTT is outlawed in most countries around the World but not in West Africa.) and this with fertilizers as well, yes they have been told that the stuff will kill them and how to use it as well, however their reasoning is simple more helps more and the old practices that are much sounder and better are being lost because the government tells them new is better and will make them rich. The issue is very complex and not only a problem in Niger, in North America I have seen similar things and in Europe it was not much different some 30 years ago, however there long and painful education and public pressures have changed things some what.

Here in Japan we have similar problem and some farmers are using the stuff as if it was holy water and kill every thing including them self with it. Learning is a hard and long road for us Humans. Why working with in the tradition and customs is so important.

Again, thank you for the comment here and great input. Much appreciated.

Barbara McPherson

at 17:07 on November 23rd, 2008

I'm coming more and more to the conclusion that those making agricultural decisions haven't stepped onto a farm, ever.

Uwe Paschen

at 21:18 on November 23rd, 2008

:), you may be right on that one Barbara. At least they seem to miss common sense and know how. Thank you for the comment and read here as well as for the R, much appreciated.

forthebetta

at 23:18 on November 23rd, 2008

i've distrusted the World Bank ever since i heard about them charging Bolivians for their own rainwater.

Uwe Paschen

at 05:37 on November 24th, 2008

Interesting, Maybe you should write a post about it. Thank you for the Comment and read here. Much appreciated.

gerrypopplestone

at 21:37 on February 9th, 2009

Well said, Paschen. Ive only just come across this piece. Ive read a new book published in the UK: Dead Aid. The writer argues that aid often makes matters worse since it gives governments money they can actuaklly spend on whatever they like (since the World Bank never sanctions them). It also encourages corruption since they don't have to account to their local populations for how they spend (or waste) it! And she quotes examples where the Wortld Bank continues to finance government leaders that are known to steal the money for their own bank accounts. Its almost as if they are encouraged to do so!