Farmers hit by unfair rules

The agriculture sector and small farmers in developing countries are being adversely affected by a web of global trade rules that ironically protect big farms in rich countries but pressurise developing countries to open up their markets. A forum in Rome last week heard the views of experts, policy-makers and NGOs on the unfair global regime. 

AGRICULTURE is in the doldrums in many developing countries as small farmers find it harder to survive. Some are ruined by cheap imports as governments reduce their tariffs. Others find stiff competition in export markets as the subsidised products of the rich countries take away their market share.