Finland, IFAD boost Zambian small-holders with N5.249billion

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Finland have boosted the Republic of Zambia with the sum of US$31.8 million, about N5.249billion to improve the growth in small-holder agriculture.

While IFAD loaned Zambia the sum of $24.8m, Finland gave a grant of $7m.

This follows the signing of the financial agreement for the Smallholder Productivity Promotion Programme, the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Zambia to United Nations Food and Agriculture Agencies, Mr. Samuel Mapala and IFAD President, Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that agriculture, as an important sector for Zambian economic development contributes almost 22 per cent to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and about 60 per cent of Zambians depends on agriculture for their livelihoods.

IFAD in a press statement made available to NaijaAgroNet shows that loan is a necessity considering the need to promote businesses in the agricultural sector and raise productivity, which are of high priority to the government.

Focusing on increasing the production of cassava, mixed beans, groundnuts and rice, the new programme, NaijaAgroNet further learnt will enhance the on-farm productivity of smallholder farmers that will enable them to respond to emerging market opportunities. Even as it has the potential of improving income levels, food and nutrition security for poor agricultural households in the areas being covered.

NaijaAgroNet learnt that Finland co-financed the programme with a grant of US$7 million. While the programme will start in eight districts and gradually extended to some 24 districts, even as over 60,000 smallholder farming households will benefit from the programme.

'Yinka Awosanya

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WFP to feed people of South Sudan in 2012

Following the drought threatening the continent of Africa, the United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP) has made a commitment to feed the people of South Sudan, newest nation in 2012, reports Mongabay.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that with the year's drought in Somalia killing about 300, 000 children, and the ongoing drought and conflict in South Sudan that threatens food supplies of 2.7million people, the WFP promised to feed the nation in 2012.

Chris Nikoi, the WFP director in South Sudan confirmed that prices of food has already doubled or tripled in some areas of the country with hundreds of thousands children prone to malnutrition at a key developmental stage of their young lives.

The United Nations WFP also noted that the newest nation will require emergency funds of about $100million, about N16.22billion for food services for the first four months of 2012.

Despite the WFP's efforts to feed the people of South Sudan, Lack of infrastructure and land mines are part of the travelling challenges being faced by the WFP team. Read more
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Africa vulnerable to global warming - UNIDO

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has warned that African continent is vulnerable to global warming, reports ThisDay.

Director General of UNIDO, Dr. Kandeh Yumkell, gave this warning at the 10th anniversary of the Bank of Industry (BoI) held recently, saying that Africa is more vulnerable to the side effects of global warming.

"Climate change is one of the biggest long-term risks to global development," he said, even as he identified climate change as the biggest environmental and humanitarian crisis of all time.

Dr. Yumkella said there is need to act as soon as possible in order to encourage the adoption of cleaner energy sources at home and abroad.

He also affirmed that solving global warming will go a long way in improving the lives by cleaning up air pollution while investing in clean energy, green jobs and smart energy solutions.

“The increase in population is alarming and we need to as a matter of urgency develop ways to boost food security in the continent to meet the demand for food,” he said. Read more

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IFAD votes N243.3bn to fight food insecurity in developing nations

The International Food for Agricultural Development's (IFAD) member states ended its meeting in Rome for Consultations on the Ninth Replenishment of the Fund's resources by voting the sum of US$1.5 billion about N243.3 billion, a contribution to food security in developing countries.

NaijaAgroNet gathered through a press statement revealed that the new funds, which is 25 per cent more than IFAD's Eighth Replenishment is meant to finance agriculture and rural development projects across the developing world.

NaijaAgroNet recalls that every three years, IFAD member states replenish resources provided by the organisation as loans and grants to developing countries.

The fund also leverages members’ contributions to mobilize much higher amounts of grants through project co-financing with national governments, international donors and private sector.

Almost 2 billion rural dwellers depends on 500 million smallholder farms in developing nations for their livelihoods, hence the injection of new funds from member states is a confirmation of IFAD's important role in international development architecture; an effective organization delivering results in the area of food and income security, especially for the poorest people.

NaijaAgroNet further gathered that between 40 and 50 per cent of the new funds will be channeled to the Sub-Saharan Africa for development projects.

IFAD President, Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze said "This significant support from IFAD's member states, especially during these challenging global economic times, demonstrate extraordinary resolve and political will to give agriculture a major boost and help the world's small farmers find their way out of poverty."

He also pointed out that a replenishment cementing IFAD's unique status is the echoing of the spirit of global development partnership that emerged from the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan, Republic of Korea, early December this year.

IFAD, he said, has members from Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC),  Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) among other developed world; playing an active role in the Fund's governance.

NaijaAgroNet found out that all these partners contributed to the upward trend of the IFAD-9 pledges.

'Yinka Awosanya

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