AfDB Provides $63M Fund to Lift Africans Out of Poverty

A five year US$63.24 million-worth initiative was granted by the African Development Bank (AfDB) to a multi-CGIAR center, known as Support to Agricultural Research for Development of Strategic Crops in Africa (SARD-SC). The project aims to enhance the productivity and income derived from cassava, maize, rice and wheat – four of the six strategic crops of Africa. Target beneficiaries include farmer's groups, youth, private sector, policy makers, rural entrepreneurs, national agricultural research and extensions systems (NARES), community-based organization, and nongovernmental organizations.

The project launch held in Ibadan, Nigeria was officiated by the Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Dr. Nteranya Sangina, who called on researchers to deliver 'quick impact' to justify the investments in research. IITA is the executing agency of the project that also include Africa Rice Center, the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas and the International Food Policy Research Institute.

For information, contact Godwin Atser, g.atser@cgiar.org. Details of the news can be viewed at http://www.modernghana.com/news/434153/1/afdb-and-researchers-launch-63m-initiative-to-lift.html.