Bamako, Mali - The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has given Mali a loan of US$31.70 million and a grant of US$294,729 to help the country improve agricultural productivity in rural areas, PANA learnt from reliable source. The funding aims to increase the productivity of small farmers and agricultural processors.

It will also strengthen the food production systems, such as irrigated rice, horticulture, rain-fed farming of cereals, the production of cowpea, forage and livestock in the regions (provinces) of Gao, Mopti , Segou, Sikasso and Tombouctou.

It will also help provide producers with improved technology, contributing to modernize their systems and increase production.

The area of irrigated land will increase and the capacity of actors will also be strengthened at all levels in the areas targeted by the project, which will reach over 60,000 vulnerable households of small farmers, agricultural processors and their organizations.

Priority will be given to women and youth in the project areas.

The latest funding brings the number of IFAD operations in Mali to 12 with a total investment of US$187 million benefiting over 353,308 households.

Agreement for the financing was signed Tuesday in Rome, Italy, by the Ambassador of Mali to IFAD, Gaoussou Drabo, and the President of IFAD, Kanayo F. Nwanze.

Pana 19/02/2011