MALHAMDALE farmers Chris and Jane Hall are going to Africa to visit other farmers experiencing difficult times.

Christian Aid has arranged the trip to bring together farmers hit by foot and mouth in this country and those in the developing world who are also experiencing great hardship, albeit of a different nature.

The project is the brainchild of Malham resident Judy Rogers, who is about to start work as Christian Aid's area co-ordinator.

She said: "The idea is to share their experiences and see that other people in other parts of the world experience similar difficulties. They are not alone.

"The trip will mark the anniversary of the first outbreak of foot and mouth in a positive way - to try to bring out some insights about farmers are coping with the situation and to show that hopefully they are coming out the other end."

Chris, a churchwarden at Kirkby Malham Parish Church, and Jane will fly to Ghana where they will visit rice farmer Meiri Seidu whose business has been decimated by cheap imports.

The couple, who farm at Airton, will share their experiences of a terrible year, during which they lost their 1,475 beef cattle and sheep in a contiguous cull.

They will be accompanied by a crew from Yorkshire TV who will make a film to be shown on Calendar news to coincide with the anniversary of the first case of foot and mouth.

"Christian Aid is concerned with world trade and how poorer countries can support themselves. At least we have had compensation, but they don't get anything like that. Meiri grows rice, but in Ghana they can import it cheaper from America so she's no longer in business with rice, and is having to look to other means of making a living," said Chris.

"We are going to restock, but not as many as before, and we are going to diversify. We have just had planning permission to open a farm shop and tea room and convert a building for three holiday lets. I expect we will be talking to Meiri about diversification too."

Christian Aid is launching a new project to run alongside the Drop the Debt campaign which will be concerned with world trade and changing trade rules. Chris and Jane's trip will be used to help publicise the new project.

Clare Sheehy, of Christian Aid, explained: "Both rice farmer Meiri Seidu and Chris have suffered an economic bereavement resulting in a change to their way of life. Meiri's position is the subject of a major international campaign.

"Meiri, with the little resources and tools available to her, is trying to compete with the subsidised might of the US Rice Industry. People who govern international trade should protect Meiri.

"Christian Aid is calling for a ban on subsidised exports. We are not against subsidies within the UK, but subsidising exports mean that Meiri and other farmers in developing countries are forced to compete.

"The basic issue is that with something as important as food it is important that the poorest don't become reliant on subsidised imports. Otherwise, what would happen when it stops? It is very important that people are given the change to be self sufficient."