AMSTERDAM—The International Rubber Study Group has called on the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) for further investment in natural rubber smallholders to address poverty among farmers.
In a visit to Amsterdam, IRSG Secretary General Prof Joseph Adelegan met with CFC Managing Director Sheikh Mohammed Belal and was briefed on the activities of the fund in the rubber sector.
An intergovernmental financial institution established within the framework of the United Nations, the CFC provides financial support for commodity development projects in developing countries.
In his meeting with Adelegan, the CFC's Belal said the fund had implemented a "good number of projects" along the rubber value-chain to help alleviate smallholders poverty and enhance productivity.
Belal "expressed readiness to do more" as the poverty situation of the smallholder farming communities had not improved, according to a recent statement from CFC. Belal said support could be offered as part of an ongoing initiative by CFC, which is creating an "agricultural commodity transformation" (ACT) fund.
Once formed, the ACT fund could contribute more to the removal of poverty and attract private enterprises to join the investment fund.
The Netherlands-based CFC also requested IRSG to further focus on the issues of sustainability and its importance in addressing poverty among the farming communities.
"Both CFC and IRSG expressed their resolve to do all they can to protect smallholders in the rubber value-chain from poverty," the CFC said.
