Unlocking the Promise of Smallholder Farmers: A Response to World Bank President Ajay Banga
Stop Financing Factory Farming
3rd April '25
A recent Financial Times op-ed by World Bank President Ajay Banga presents an ambitious vision for international development, shifting the focus beyond reducing suffering to unlocking growth potential. Yet too often, the Bank’s agricultural investments– such as those undertaken by its private sector arm International Finance Corporation (IFC)– favor factory farming over smallholder farmers, weakening rural economies and ecosystems.
To truly harness their promise, the Bank must shift its focus toward smallholder-led solutions—supporting climate resilience, equitable value chains, and community-driven agriculture. Programs like SAPEP demonstrate what is possible when investments prioritize sustainable, inclusive growth. The future of food security and sustainable development lies in empowering those who already feed the Global South.
Read S3F’s full response below.
