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STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN HIV/AIDS and food security |
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AIDS has killed at least seven million agricultural workers since 1985 in the 25 most affected countries in Africa and 16 million more could die by 2020, said Marcela Villarreal, FAO's focal point on HIV/AIDS. "Africa's dream to achieve self-sufficiency regarding food production will have to be at least postponed... However, I would like to believe there is hope. In spite of the large setback in all aspects of development and in particular of rural development due to HIV/AIDS, much can be done, provided innovative strategies are developed together with the stakeholders." She added that farm production is endangered because "Labour is becoming a scarce resource and farmers are producing less cash crops and less nutritious crops, which means there is less money available in households and that vulnerability is increased." She added that a decrease in the range of crops also compounds the problem, for it leads to a decrease in plant diversity. Food production is further undermined by the epidemic; when farmers die, their knowledge of farming techniques dies with them. Those left behind lack the knowledge needed for productive capacities. |
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