Spain,Venezuela give Burkina Faso 5 mln USD for agriculture development

Burkina Faso, Spain and Venezuela, through the intermediary of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), have signed three financial support agreements worth nearly 2.5 billion CFA francs (about 5 million U.S. dollars) for agricultural production development in Burkina Faso.

According to the agreements signed Wednesday, Venezuela's financial contribution totaling 1.185 billion CFA francs is aimed at financing small-scale irrigation projects within the framework of a high intensity agricultural project, through the use of controlled water in the country's regions of Plateau central, North, the Sahel, as well as in South Central and South West regions.

Spain's contribution amounting to more than 600 million CFA francs is earmarked for supporting an agricultural production program.

Besides renewing cooperation aimed at fostering North-South partnership, the two financial contributions by Spain and Venezuela are targeting 500 hectares in different regions of the country, and are expected to benefit 2,100 families.

FAO's contribution of 130 million CFA francs will be used for research activities and wheat farming in Burkina Faso.

This contribution also includes a support segment for selecting wheat seeds capable of adapting to agro-climatic conditions in the country's west center region of Sourou, where an experiment on wheat farming is currently underway. (1 dollar = 493 CFA)

Source: Xinhua