PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Italy: Burundi, IFAD join hands to combat local food insecurity, malnutrition
Rome, Italy (PANA) – Burundi and the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Tuesday signed a US$44.8 million agreement to finance the second phase of the Value Chain Development Programme (PRODEFI-II) in the eastern Africa country.
According to IFAD, the funding comprises a $36.6 million IFAD grant and an additional grant of $4.9 million from the IFAD Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP) Trust Fund.
In a press statement, IFAD said the government of Burundi will contribute $3.1 million and the beneficiaries an additional $0.3 million towards the programme.
The agreement was signed in Rome by Burundi's Minister of Finance, Tabu Abdallah Manirakiza, and IFAD President Kanayo F. Nwanze.
The second phase of the PRODEFI aims to strengthen the achievements of the first phase of the programme in the provinces of Bubanza, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karusi, Kayanza, Muramvya, Ngozi, as well as the province of Muyinga.
"The new programme will intensify crops and livestock production to improve food security and beneficiaries’ nutritional status. The IFAD’s ASAP funding will be used to increase rural households’ resilience to climate change," IFAD explained.
According to the UN agency, the programme will develop milk and rice production, processing and marketing as well as promote youth employment.
To ensure the sustainability and impact, PRODEFI-II will build the capacity of local farmers’ organizations through training, particularly in natural resource management.
It is expected that programme activities will increase the incomes of smallholder farmers taking part and facilitate access to rural finance.
“The approval of the PRODEFI-II by IFAD Executive Board in September 2015 underscores the Fund's longstanding partnership with the government of Burundi to promote economic growth in rural areas and fight rural poverty,” said Rym Ben Zid, IFAD Country Programme Manager for Burundi.
The programme will be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and will reach 33,534 rural households. It is estimated that at least 30 per cent of the beneficiaries will be women including those who head households and 30 per cent young people.
Since 1980, IFAD has invested a total of US$210.2 million in 11 programmes and projects in Burundi and this has generated a total investment of $421.7 million, benefiting 613,579 households.
-0- PANA PR/AR 3Nov2015
According to IFAD, the funding comprises a $36.6 million IFAD grant and an additional grant of $4.9 million from the IFAD Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP) Trust Fund.
In a press statement, IFAD said the government of Burundi will contribute $3.1 million and the beneficiaries an additional $0.3 million towards the programme.
The agreement was signed in Rome by Burundi's Minister of Finance, Tabu Abdallah Manirakiza, and IFAD President Kanayo F. Nwanze.
The second phase of the PRODEFI aims to strengthen the achievements of the first phase of the programme in the provinces of Bubanza, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karusi, Kayanza, Muramvya, Ngozi, as well as the province of Muyinga.
"The new programme will intensify crops and livestock production to improve food security and beneficiaries’ nutritional status. The IFAD’s ASAP funding will be used to increase rural households’ resilience to climate change," IFAD explained.
According to the UN agency, the programme will develop milk and rice production, processing and marketing as well as promote youth employment.
To ensure the sustainability and impact, PRODEFI-II will build the capacity of local farmers’ organizations through training, particularly in natural resource management.
It is expected that programme activities will increase the incomes of smallholder farmers taking part and facilitate access to rural finance.
“The approval of the PRODEFI-II by IFAD Executive Board in September 2015 underscores the Fund's longstanding partnership with the government of Burundi to promote economic growth in rural areas and fight rural poverty,” said Rym Ben Zid, IFAD Country Programme Manager for Burundi.
The programme will be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and will reach 33,534 rural households. It is estimated that at least 30 per cent of the beneficiaries will be women including those who head households and 30 per cent young people.
Since 1980, IFAD has invested a total of US$210.2 million in 11 programmes and projects in Burundi and this has generated a total investment of $421.7 million, benefiting 613,579 households.
-0- PANA PR/AR 3Nov2015
