ugnet_: Poverty irks World Bank boss

[Omar Kezimbira]

Poverty irks World Bank boss
By Patrick O. Jaramogi
Nov 15, 2003 - Monitor

KAMPALA - A senior economist at the World Bank, Mr Sudharshan Canagarajah, has criticized the Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture, saying it is not doing enough to reduce poverty in Uganda. In an interview with The Monitor at the Nile Conference Center this week, Canagarajah said that poverty levels are highest in the rural areas because people don't have access to markets, roads and telecommunication. "Access to the markets in the rural areas is difficult. Many people especially in the North have left their farmlands and are staying in camps. This has had an impact on food production which is the sole livelihood of 90 percent of Ugandans," he said. He said while the PMA policy is a good programme, it needs to be reviewed so that it can deliver. "Focus should be out at the grassroots if something is to be achieved,' he said. He said money is not the problem but the poor are not benefiting from the policy. "World Bank will analyse the issues that are necessary in addressing poverty and if it conforms to our desires, we shall help Uganda with more funds," he said. He announced that the World Bank has released US $ 150 million (Shs 300 billion to boost the Poverty Eradication Action Plan under the Poverty Reduction Support Credit for a year.

� 2003 The Monitor Publications

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