Kennedy Round: Togo gets new rice supply from Japan

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Thursday, 08 February 2024 17:38

Kennedy Round: Togo gets new rice supply from Japan

(Togo First) - Togo received a new rice shipment from Japan yesterday, February 7th. The shipment, a donation, was received by the Ministry of Agriculture. Worth 250 million Yen (about CFA1.2 billion), it is part of the "Kennedy Round " (KR) food aid program.

The Japanese rice will help bridge Togo’s structural deficit and make the staple available on the local market at a cheap price, thereby improving food and nutritional security in the West African country. The money obtained from the sales will be invested in socio-economic development projects.

According to Dindiogue Konlani, Director of Cabinet at the Ministry of Agriculture, revenues from previous sales of donated rice were used to set up planned agricultural development zones (ZAAP) and to repair roads in rural parts of the country. Part of the money also served to buy agricultural equipment to boost operations at existing ZAAPs.

According to the Togolese authorities, since 2008, Togo has received from Japan a total of 114,692 t of grains, including 81,849 t of wheat and 32,843 t of white rice. This amounts to almost 5 billion Yen, or around CFA24.5 billion.

Esaïe Edoh

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