Associated Press - October 15, 2009 11:54 AM ET

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Bill Gates says the world can make huge strides in reducing hunger and poverty by helping small-holder farmers in Africa become more productive.

The founder of Microsoft Inc. and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation spoke at the World Food Prize symposium on Thursday in Des Moines. He says helping the world's poorest farmers grow more crops is the single most powerful tool in reducing hunger and poverty.

Earlier in the day the Gates Foundation announced nearly $120 million in grants to help sub-Saharan Africa.

Gates says the effort to help small farmers is divided by an ideological wedge between increasing productivity and promoting sustainability.

Gates says that threatens to block important advances that could help small farmers.

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