2007年VOA标准英语-Former UN Chief Joins Campaign to Aid African F

By Terry Fitzpatrick
Cape¹ Town
14 June 2007

Business and political leaders in Cape Town for the World Economic Forum² on Africa say agriculture can fuel economic growth in impoverished³ countries. Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has stepped in to lead a new effort to double African farm productivity in the next 20 years. Terry FitzPatrick reports for VOA from Cape Town.

 

Former UN secretary General Kofi Annan a press conference at the World Economic forum on Africa in Cape Town, 14 Jun 2007

Saying that the path to African prosperity begins in the fields of its farmers, former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan announced he will chair the recently formed Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa.

 

"It is very clear to me that we cannot pull our nations and our people out of poverty without a strong agricultural base," he said.

 

Financed by America-based foundations, the Alliance will distribute new varieties of seeds and fertilizers, build small-scale irrigation systems, and help boost access to agricultural markets. Annan says a six percent growth in crop output per year can end Africa's endemic cycle of famine. He will personally visit farms across the continent.

"The African farmer is a very intelligent person," he said. "If you demonstrate that things work, they will adapt."

 

Annan's new role was the highlight of a roundtable discussion on African agriculture. Experts noted⁴ that sub-Saharan Africa is the only region where per capita food production has steadily⁵ declined.

Florence Wambugu, who heads the African Harvest Biotech Foundation in Kenya, told delegates that previous efforts to boost agriculture have incorrectly concentrated on international trade.

"We are focused too much on export crops, giving them all the support, the coffee, the tea, and we have forgotten the crops that provide the food for the grassroots community: the sorghum⁶, cassava, banana, yam and others. They have been left out of this," said Wambugu.

 

The panelists said that, as a result, one third of Africa's population is chronically⁷ undernourished.

One agricultural dealer⁸ in Malawi, Dina Rissle Kapiza, said revitalizing farms can bring badly needed income to impoverished rural areas. She said subsistence farmers need help to enter the world of commercial agriculture.

"These small scale farmers need to find markets," said Kapiza. "If we leave these people, the small-scale farmers, stuck in the mud, we are nowhere. We will reach nowhere. "

 

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa has raised $150 million so far. The chairman of the Development Bank of South Africa, Jay Naidoo, says it will take far more to create the infrastructure⁹ needed for a robust¹⁰ agriculture sector¹¹.

"How do we finance the road to the village? How do we finance the cooling facility if you're collecting milk? How do we finance processing if you are producing fruits or vegetables?," he said.

 

Naidoo says improvements will cost billions of dollars. With a high-profile leader such as Kofi Annan spearheading the effort, the hope among delegates here is that the money will be forthcoming.

 

1 cape   

n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风

参考例句：

• I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
• She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。

2 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

3 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

6 sorghum   

n.高粱属的植物，高粱糖浆，甜得发腻的东西

参考例句：

• We can grow sorghum or maize on this plot.这块地可以种高粱或玉米。
• They made sorghum into pig feed.他们把高粱做成了猪饲料。

7 chronically   

ad.长期地

参考例句：

• Similarly, any pigment nevus that is chronically irritated should be excised. 同样，凡是经常受慢性刺激的各种色素痣切勿予以切除。
• People chronically exposed to chlorine develop some degree of tolerance. 人长期接触氯气可以产生某种程度的耐受性。

8 dealer   

n.商人，贩子

参考例句：

• The dealer spent hours bargaining for the painting.那个商人为购买那幅画花了几个小时讨价还价。
• The dealer reduced the price for cash down.这家商店对付现金的人减价优惠。

9 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

10 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

11 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。