Investing in people, transforming lives
Message from the Director
Dear friends,
Welcome to the first issue of FIDAction for 2010. This newsletter is an important forum for sharing the latest news from our programmes and projects in Western and Central Africa.
Included in this issue is a summary of results for the period of June 2008 to July 2009, which were provided by IFAD's Annual Portfolio Performance Review. The review assesses how well our projects have performed during the year, how effective we have been in addressing agricultural development in the region, and what the prospects are for achieving future development objectives.
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Issue no.16 - May 2010
Portfolio Review: Investing in people, transforming lives
IFAD's Western and Central Africa (WCA) division is large and diverse. It covers the Sahel as well as coastal and forest zones, encompassing 24 member countries with an estimated population of about 400 million people.
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The Congo: new Benin yams produce abundant yields
Yams from Benin are out-performing the local variety in northern Congo, delighting many farmers in the region.
"After just six months, some of the imported varieties were already mature...
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Cameroon: providing farmers with up-to-date marketing information
The Roots and Tubers Market-Driven Development Programme (PNDRT) and the Directorate of Investigation and Agricultural Statistics (DESA) are using modern information and communication technology and rural radio to test ...
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Senegal: drip irrigation for market gardens boost incomes and food security
The rural population of Matam, located along the Senegalese frontier with Mauritania, depends on agriculture, livestock production and, to a lesser extent, fishing. Over the last four decades, a dramatic decline in rainfall and changes...
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Knowledge Sharing: Sierra Leone learning from Ghana's rural banks
The Rural Finance and Community Initiatives Project (RFCIP) in Sierra Leone held a study tour from to learn from Ghana's many years of experience in rural community banking.
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PRONAF-GIL: IITA and IFAD work together to improve cowpea production
Cowpeas are a key crop for resource-poor farmers and rural women in subsistence farming systems in Western and Central Africa. Performing well under poor conditions...
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