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US gives K1bn for maize
By
Our Reporter - 18-06-2002 |
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The United States Agency for International Development (Usaid) yesterday released K1.1 billion for Malawi to import maize to curb the food crisis and strengthen key pro-poor sectors of agriculture, health and environment.
A statement from Usaid/Malawi mission director Roger Yochelson said the majority of the funds would be used to import about 40,000 metric tonnes of maize to be procured and distributed through commercial market mechanisms using competitive tendering processes.
He said the total value of Usaid’s commitment to the emergency programme in Malawi was currently 19,940 metric tonnes valued at over US$10 million with additional contributions expected in response to the World Food Programme’s emergency operation programme.
Yochelson said Usaid was finalising a grant to the NGO consortium to monitor food and non-food needs within the country and strengthen Malawi’s capacity to monitor, plan and manage disaster assistance.
And a statement from the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy in Lilongwe said some of the money would be used to complete key Ministry of Health and Population’s civil works related to family planning activities and the Malawi Environmental Endowment Trust.
The statement said the release of the funds was triggered by Malawi government’s success related to the liberalisation of agricultural input markets, expanded market competitiveness, the establishment of a comprehensive policy and legislative framework for environmental issues.
Usaid said it also commended the government for its current efforts in developing strong procedures for the operation of the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) which would have the responsibility to store, manage and sell the maize using the transparency of sealed bids and appropriate documentation and with full cost recovery to ensure that the NFRA does not suffer financial losses as a result of the operation.
US’s full support for the food assistance is US$20 million with the value of non-food assistance at US$100,000.
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