IFAD to mobilise $100m for Zambia
By Paul Shalala
The International Fund of Agricultural Development -IFAD -has offered to mobilise at least 100 million dollars to help Zambia invest in climate smart agriculture.
IFAD, which is a Rome-based specialised United Nations agency, has invested 385 million dollars in Zambia’s agriculture sector since 1981 to help farmers.
IFAD Vice President for Corporate Services, GUOQI WU says the current drought Zambia is going through deserves more climate finance to build resilience.
Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Vice President MUTALE NALUMANGO at Cabinet Office today, Mr. GUOQIÂ said the drought is an opportunity for IFAD to stand up and support the people of Zambia.
He said the organisation is engaging various partners such as the United States Agency for International Development, the Chinese government and other bilateral and multilateral partners to mobilise resources to help Zambia.
Mr. GUOQI asked government to officially write to IFAD and spell out the actual needs the country has.
He said IFAD will respond within months to help Zambia especially that climate change has hit the country hard.
And Mrs. NALUMANGO thanked IFAD for having helped Zambia through programmes such as Rural Finance Expansion Programme – RUFEP – which are helping rural farmers
Mrs. NALUMANGO disclosed that the number of people affected by the drought is now close to ten million, of those affected, six point six million need urgent government support.
She said Zambia wants to work hard and build its own resilience so that it can withstand future climatic challenges.
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