Guinea-Bissau and IFAD invest in agriculture to boost food and nutrition security

On 10th June 2015, the Republic of Guinea-Bissau signed a US$4.7 million loan and US$4.7 million grant agreement to finance the Economic Development Project for the Southern Regions (PADES) with the International Fund for Agricultural Development of the United Nations (IFAD).

PADES aims to boost agricultural production, ensure food security and provide income diversification opportunities in the regions of Tombali, Quinara and Bolama-Bijagos in Guinea-Bissau. It will help smallholder farmers, particularly rice and vegetable growers, and livestock producers to increase production by providing them with better access to markets, improved water management practices and extension services.

The financing agreement was signed in Rome by João Anibal Pereira, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, and by Kanayo F. Nwanze, President of IFAD.

“The PADES will boost crop and livestock production to support the country, which is the second largest net food importer per capita in the Franc CFA zone after Senegal, to improve food and nutrition security,” – Aïssa Touré, IFAD Country Programme Manager for Guinea-Bissau.

The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Guinea-Bissau and will reach more than 31,000 beneficiaries, of which 40 per cent of whom will be women and 42 per cent young people.

Learn more about the investment at IFAD