Bill Gates gives $12m grant to boost yam production
American Politics, Headlines Monday, April 2nd, 2012LAGOS (AFP) – The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation gave a $12-million (nine-million-euro) grant Monday to a project aimed at boosting yam production and doubling the income of west African farmers of the crop.
It is the foundation’s largest grant for yam production anywhere in the world, said a spokesman of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Nigeria’s southwest city of Ibadan.
The project’s initial focus is on 200,000 smallholder farm families in Ghana and Nigeria, 90 percent of whom cultivate less than two acres, the institute said in a statement.
Yam, a tuber plant, is a staple food in many tropical countries and provides the most important source of dietary calories in Nigeria and Ghana.
But a variety of pests and diseases have dramatically reduced harvests.
“Most farmers cultivate yams mainly for household consumption, but if we can increase yields, while also improving marketing conditions, then many of these farmers should be able to earn a steady income from growing yams,” institute director general Nteranya Sanginga said.
-Vanguardwp_posts
Related Posts
- I lost, I will go back – Actress Regina Daniels breaks down in tears
- Tinubu posts statement on X in response to Trump’s threat, insecurity (Full Text)
- You are a prime suspect! – Ex-Mayor of Blanco, Texas, accuses Sultan of Sokoto of backing Jihad genocide
- Trump threatens Nigeria with potential military action, escalates claim of Christian persecution
- Country of Particular Concern: Trump’s comments don’t reflect ‘realities on ground’ – FG
Short URL: https://newnigerianpolitics.com/?p=19749
Posted by admin
on Apr 2 2012. Filed under American Politics, Headlines.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
