May 26, 2012

World Bank grants West Africa's US$120-million agricultural fund

The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has granted US$120 million for the next phase of the West African Agricultural Productivity Program that aims to enhance food production by providing Ghana and Senegal with new farm technologies.

The programme will finance technology exchange programmes, align national priorities with regional ones to increase regional cooperation in food technology generation, and support a greater push for technology adoption and dissemination.

"The Bank's support takes a resolved approach to making agriculture more productive and sustainable in West Africa," said Jamal Saghir, World Bank Director for Sustainable Development in the Africa Region. "It will contribute to increasing growth in the economy, improve food security and reduce poverty."

With population expected to increase from 300 million in 2011 to about 500 million in 2030, West Africa is faced with the challenge of satisfying rapidly growing food demand. The recent food, fuel and financial crisis have demonstrated the need in West Africa to fully utilise the sub-region's agricultural potential.

It is possible to increase production of key commodities that represent the basis of the West African food security system. Adopting new and improved crop management practices can increase cereal crops by 30%; irrigated rice systems could benefit from yield increase by nearly 50%; and cassava yield can be raised more than 40%.

Regional production covers 80% of the population's food needs in ECOWAS, about 20% of its imports being food products. West Africa is severely affected by the current rise in global food, financial and fuel prices. Intra-regional agricultural trade remains limited and its share of the total world agricultural trade is marginal. Climate change, increasing population, and poor conditions of natural resources reveal an urgent need for improved agricultural production.

"The programme will help Senegal and Ghana boost agricultural production to cope with the increasing demand for food in the region," said Abdoulaye Toure, Task team leader for the project. "We are pleased to work in partnership with ECOWAS to boost dominant sectors, such as agriculture, to their potential so that the people of these countries can become self-sufficient and secure in food production."