US launches initiative to improve West African cotton

Accra, Jan. 5, GNA - The United States of America through its Agency for International Development West Africa Office (USAID/West Africa) has signed a three-year agreement with the International Centre for Soil Fertility and Agricultural Development (IFDC) to implement the West African Cotton Improvement Programme (WACIP) in Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali, known as the C-4.

A statement issued by the American Embassy said the award represented the largest piece in the implementation of the $27 million WACIP initiative, which was the centrepiece of the U.S. commitment to support the efforts of the C-4 and Senegal to increase cotton productivity and enhance their participation in world trade.

The WACIP, along with other agriculture- and trade-related programs funded by the US Government and the Millennium Challenge Corporation in the C-4, reflect the substantial commitment of the U.S. Government to address trade and development aspects of cotton in response to concerns raised by the C-4 in the World Trade Organization Doha Round.

The statement said: 93Activities funded under this agreement will promote a better supporting environment and improve the efficiency of the entire cotton value chain in West Africa."

This is intended to increase income of small farmers and contribute materially to the Millennium Development Goals of reducing hunger and poverty. Farm-level activities would focus on increasing the productivity of cotton.

WACIP would improve farmer access to inputs and credit; strengthen farmer organizations; promote higher quality handling and processing; help to establish and strengthen value-adding enterprises including those producing artisan products and develop improved and better targeted marketing strategies.

Senegal based-activities, separately managed, would focus on diversifying agricultural production in cotton growing regions and building capacity to add value to and export cotton products. The statement said the activities under this agreement would be implemented through a partnership with US agriculture universities; numerous regional organizations; government agencies; farmer organizations and private businesses.

The Headquarters for this programme would be in Bamako, Mali with satellite offices in the other C-4 countries. This activity is funded through the US Government agreement with the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel. 5 Jan. 07