U.S. urges countries to donate more to ag fund
April 14, 2014 | 04:14 PM
Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew and Secretary of State John Kerry have urged nations around the world to expand their support for the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP).
As leaders gather for the World Bank-International Monetary Fund 2014 spring meetings this week, Lew and Kerry sent them a letter noting that the United States spearheaded the creation of GAFSP in the wake of the 2007-2008 food price crisis and has committed itself to contribute $1 to GAFSP for every $2 from other donors, up to a maximum U.S. contribution of $475 million.
Since the announcement of the funding challenge, other donors have provided $230 million in new pledges, but an additional $720 million in pledges from other donors is needed in order to fully leverage matching funds from the United States, the White House said in a news release.
“GAFSP consistently produces high impact, sustainable results, and the program is expected to improve the livelihoods of at least 13 million farmers across 25 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Already, some countries have seen rural incomes increase by more than 200 percent,” the White House said in the release.
As leaders gather for the World Bank-International Monetary Fund 2014 spring meetings this week, Lew and Kerry sent them a letter noting that the United States spearheaded the creation of GAFSP in the wake of the 2007-2008 food price crisis and has committed itself to contribute $1 to GAFSP for every $2 from other donors, up to a maximum U.S. contribution of $475 million.
Since the announcement of the funding challenge, other donors have provided $230 million in new pledges, but an additional $720 million in pledges from other donors is needed in order to fully leverage matching funds from the United States, the White House said in a news release.
“GAFSP consistently produces high impact, sustainable results, and the program is expected to improve the livelihoods of at least 13 million farmers across 25 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Already, some countries have seen rural incomes increase by more than 200 percent,” the White House said in the release.
