The G-8 debt relief package will result in hundreds of millions of dollars in relief for Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal. This should free up resources for cotton.
The U.S. will be doubling aid to Africa by 2010 under the G-8 commitment. These countries will benefit from this pledge.
The new African Global Competitiveness Initiative, a $200 million, 5-year program, is being designed and will also help improve competitiveness and stimulate regional and international trade. This new Initiative will be developed with the African counterparts. The program will help selected countries to diversify their trade and remove key barriers to expanding growth. Some of these reforms should have general benefits for a range of sectors, including agriculture and the cotton sector.
The National Cotton Council and USAID cosponsored entomologists from the region to receive training on cotton insect problems in Africa and shorter-term chemical and integrated pest management measures at Tuskegee University.
Johann's trip to Burkina Faso to meet with trade and agriculture ministers from the five countries, listen to their concerns, discuss the U.S. agriculture proposal, and explore ways trade capacity building can be helpful. The WACIP is a direct response to requests made in meetings of the "development track" to cotton at the WTO.
USDA is the country's largest conservation agency, encouraging voluntary efforts to protect soil, water, and wildlife on the 70 percent of America's lands that are in private hands.
United States Department of Agriculture
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