IFAD Announces $1m Project to Increase Agriculture in East Africa
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The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has announced a US$1m project to open financial services to the East Africa’s youths involved in the agriculture sector.
As indicated by IFAD, the project is in accordance with the organisation’s ambitious expect to extend financial inclusion to East Africa and to end poverty, hunger and food insecurity in Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda.
The venture apparently benefits around 10,000 young farmers living in rural areas in the countries, said IFAD.
Elizabeth Ssendiwala, gender and youth coordinator at IFAD for East and Southern Africa, said that the focal point of the project is to open the capability of rural youth to accomplish a sustainable growth.
As around 70 per cent of youth living in the rural parts in the region, the project is required to help them taking up agricultural for the general improvement in the sector.
Elizabeth Nsimadala, president of the Eastern African Farmers Federation (EAFF), stated that the new initiative is set to provide opportunities to the youth to drive new agriculture and agribusiness agenda.
Susan Koech, principal secretary for the East African Community (EAC), said that the agriculture sector in the East African region can create millions of jobs and help reduce migrations of African youth to foreign countries, thus shifting the region from net importer of food to net exporter.
