HC Deb 20 May 1991 vol 191 cc376-8W
Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what long-term aid and advice on growing food is being given to the Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and other African countries; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Chalker

British aid is currently supporting the following projects related to food production in sub-Saharan Africa: this includes the livestock sector but excludes our involvement in cash crops for export.

Ethiopia

  • Teff Research: To produce improved strain of this indigenous cereal crop.
  • Sidamo Rangelands: improved food security on sustainable basis for 10 communities in Sidamo Province.
  • Koisha Rural Development: to increase food production and strengthen local economy.
  • Western Haraghe: introduction of sustainable system of land use.
  • Dairy Goat Project: to encourage ownership and improve productivity in the Highlands.
  • Farmers Research Project: assistance to NGOs working with communities in North Omo region.
  • Under Joint Funding Scheme co-financing 4 agricultural projects being run or supported by British NGOs

Sudan and Somalia

For political, economic and security reasons, long-term, bilateral development assistance to Somalia and Sudan has been suspended, although in Sudan we are co-financing under the joint funding scheme three agriculture projects run or supported by British NGOs. We are also continuing to provide humanitarian aid, and to honour commitments to Sudanese and Somalis in this country on technical co-operation training awards

Botswana

Technical Assistance: Eight Veterinary Officers concerned with Beef production, one Agricultural Economist, three Research Officers.

Cameroon

Technical assistance to agricultural research in cooperation with the World bank.

Gambia

Agricultural development project: research into effects of trypanosomiasis on different breeds of cattle.

Technical Assistance to develop seed multiplication unit (recently completed).

Ivory Coast

Seed multiplication project in conjunction with the Commonwealth Development Corporation (recently completed).

Kenya

Rehabilitation of South Nyanza Sugar Company (Sony).

Agricultural Information Centre: to reinforce work of Extension Services, training and dissemination of information to farmers.

Kenya Trypanosomasis Research Institute (KETRI) research into tsetse fly and improve livestock production.

To increase control of rinderpest like diseases in Kenya, through improved diagnosis surveillance, immunisation and understanding of their epidemiology.

Crop Protection Research strengthening within the Kenyan Agricultural Research Institute (KARI).

Agricultural Development Corporation: to improve the efficiency of the ADC.

Lesotho

Provision of Livestock Adviser and Agricultural Adviser.

Malawi

Likoma/Chizirmlu Artisanal Fisheries Development Project.

Livestock Disease Evaluation Project.

Lake Malawi Fisheries Project: provision of expertise, equipment and a vessel to assess the potential for expansion of fisheries development activities on the lake.

Mauritius

Farmers Service Centre Project: to provide expert technical advice for small sugar planters including advice on crop diversification.

Mozambique

Rehabilitation of Namarroi district: support of agricultural extension training, rehabilitation of roads, small industry and construction of grinding mills, wells and springs.

Agriculture and Soil Conservation Programme, Nampula City: Gully stabilisation and plot protection, and supply of trees for fuelwood and cultivation.

Support for small farmers and co-operatives, Zona Verdes, Maputo: Provision of pesticides, equipment, seeds etc, and advice on marketing, finance and planning.

Nigeria

Agricultural training for technicians and farm managers.

Sierra Leone

Agricultural Extension Training Project at certificate training centres (CTC), Njala University College: Support to construction and staffing of the centre.

Swaziland

Provision of three Veterinary Officers concerned with livestock.

Tanzania

  • Goats Extension Project: improving goat husbandry.
  • Fisheries Development Project at Lindi/Mtwara.
  • National Agriculture and Livestock Research Project: to improve efficiency and productivity of RNR sector.
  • West Kilimanjaro Dairy Farm Project; to raise milk output and improve quality of dairy cattle.
  • Tengeru Agricultural and Livestock Tutors Training Centre Project: to improve training skills of staff responsible for training extension workers and farmers.
  • University Support Programme in training for agricultural engineers.
  • Livestock adviser to Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.

Zambia

Adaptive Research in support of the development of Tsetse control Technology in Africa.

Zimbabwe

  • DDT Monitoring: effects of DDT on land.
  • Assistance to Meteorological Department for agricultural planning.
  • Communal Land Soil Surveying (Provision of expert).
  • Insect Pest Management Initiative: Tsetse control.

Africa General

Migrant Pest: research to reduce crop losses caused by migrant pests. (Various locations).

Assistance to International Red Locust Control Organisation for Central and Southern Africa (IRLCOSA): provision of flight maintenance equipment and funding of pilot training.

Assistance to Desert Locust Control Organisation for Eastern Africa: provision of Operations Adviser and a Pilot.

Technical Assistance to Pan-Africa Rinderpest Campaign.

Additionally, under the joint funding scheme, we are co-financing almost 80 long-term agricultural development projects being run or supported by British non-governmental organisations in sub-Saharan Africa other than Sudan and Ethiopia.

We are also strengthening Africa capacity via numerous training awards tenable in this country: a total of 59 such awards in the fields of agricultural development and food production are currently held by nationals from Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan.

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