Ghana, China Sign Agriculture Aid Accord

PARIS - The governments of Ghana and China have signed a tripartite agreement with the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation aimed at sending Chinese agricultural experts and field technicians to assist food production in the West African nation.

According to a press statement from FAO, the accord was signed Tuesday in Rome under the framework of FAO's Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS).

The agreement puts China's technical assistance services at the disposal of Ghana for three years as part of Chinese co- operation with developing African countries.

As part of the agreement, China will provide the most appropriate technology and equipment in order to maximise technical co-operation in the various fields aimed at improving the living conditions of the poor and vulnerable groups in rural areas.

Ghana would also receive up to four experts, 47 field technicians and one interpreter in a phased manner as part of the deal.

The SPFS is operational in 60 countries, 36 of them in Africa.

African countries already benefiting from Chinese expertise under the SPFS include Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania and Guinea.

According to FAO, South-South co-operation under the framework provides an opportunity to strengthen co-operation among developing countries with the support of interested donor countries and FAO.