2007 Press Release

US Government to Provide $27 Million to Increase Cotton Production and Trade in Mali and Four Other West African Countries

January 9, 2007

The United States Government  is pleased to announce a new three-year agreement to support cotton and trade development in Mali and three other countries in West Africa.  Signed between the United States Agency for International Development and the International Center for Soil Fertility and Agricultural Development (IFDC), this new agreement is the centerpiece of the $27 million West African Cotton Improvement Program (WACIP) which works with Mali, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, (the “C-4.”),
The WACIP, along with other agriculture- and trade-related programs funded by the U.S Government in the C-4, reflect the substantial U.S. commitment  to address the trade and development aspects of cotton in response to concerns raised by the C-4 in the World Trade Organization Doha Round, with the shared goal of increasing cotton productivity and enhancing their participation in world trade. 

Specifically, activities funded under this agreement will promote a better supporting environment and improve the efficiency of the entire cotton value chain in West Africa with the intent of increasing income of small farmers and contributing materially to the Millennium Development Goals of reducing hunger and poverty. Farm-level activities will focus on increasing the productivity of cotton. WACIP will 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, will focus on diversifying agricultural production in cotton growing regions and building capacity to add value to and export cotton products.

The activities under this agreement will be implemented through a partnership with US agriculture universities, numerous regional organizations, government agencies, farmer organizations, and private businesses.  The headquarters for this program will 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.

For more information, please contact:  Program Office, USAID/West Africa
U.S. Agency for International Development
West Africa Mission
E45/3 Independence Ave.
P.O.Box 1630, Accra-Ghana Tel: 233-21-228440/780580
Fax: 233-21-770101/231937
www.usaid.gov/missions/warp