USAID signs agreement with Sahel drought control

Accra, Oct. 2, GNA - The United States Agency for International Development West Africa Office (USAID/West Africa) has signed an agreement with the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (French Acronym is CILSS) for 18 million dollars to promote greater agricultural productivity.

The money also covers strengthening early warning and response systems; disseminate best practices and technologies regionally, help cotton producers to improve their yields and incomes, promote the sound management of water and other natural resources. A statement issued on Monday said that the agreement was signed in Accra by Dr Musa Mbenga, Executive Secretary, CILSS and Dr Jatinder Cheema, Mission Director, USAID West Africa.

The program would focus on three main areas: Agricultural Sector Productivity and Food Security, Agricultural Policy Development and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources. Support is also provided for strengthening regional institutions leading to the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme including CILSS, the Economic Community of West African States and the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development.

Countries benefiting from this programme include: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. The activities under this agreement would be implemented through CILSS and other regional organizations; U.S. grants and contracts with nongovernmental organizations; and public/private alliances.