Agreements to finance agricultural projects in Sahelian and Saharan countries were signed between Libya and the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), totaling more than $21 million.
The first agreement, part of the FAO Special Program for Food Security (SPFS), will advance agricultural production and enhance food security, alleviating hunger and poverty in five African states. Libya will fund the $9.3 million project. The SPFS program, currently operational in 74 countries, aims to ensure access to adequate food and help poor farm communities increase food production and productivity.
The funds will be divided among five member countries of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) which works for the development and stability of its 16 member countries. Projects in Burkina Faso and Mali will each receive two million dollars in funding, the project in Sudan is set to receive $1.9 million and Niger and Chad will each receive $1.7 million for their projects.
The second agreement, Development of a Seed and Propagation Material System, is designed to develop and modernize the agriculture sector in Libya. The North African state has committed $11.8 million and an additional 1.3 million in Libyan dinars to fund the projects through trust fund arrangements with FAO.
The program will improve national food security by enhancing the organization, promotion and diffusion of massive seed production. It will help develop seed policy, legislation, regulation and standards, while advancing capacity building for a sustained seed program. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
