WASHINGTON, July 7, 2005 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that it will donate 9,000 metric tons of soybean meal to Partners for Development (PFD), a private voluntary organization, for use in the Nigeria.
PFD will sell the soybean meal in Nigeria and use the proceeds to help farmers improve their food security and increase their income by supporting rural development projects in four states. Projects include: capacity building of local organizations, farmer education, micro-credit, road rehabilitation, warehouse construction, and promotion of food processing and preservation activities.
The donation will be made under USDA's Food for Progress program, administered by the Foreign Agricultural Service. The supply period for this donation is fiscal year 2005.
The Food for Progress program provides for USDA donations of agricultural commodities to needy countries to encourage economic or agricultural reforms that foster free enterprise. This year, USDA expects to donate around 525,000 tons of U.S. commodities to 30 countries under Food for Progress.
For further information, contact Debra Pfaff of FAS at (202) 720-9434, or by e-mail at Debra.Pfaff@fas.usda.gov.