Africa PAFICOT 2014 budget increased to 4.2bn francs

This information was revealed by the Minister during the 6^th session of the Steering Committee of the project, held at the Office of the Upper Niger Valley (OHVN) in Mali, where the PAFICOT project which was initially designed for the period of 2008-2013 was extended for nine more months.

At the session, chaired by the Minister, several reports were presented which marked the continuation of implementation of rehabilitation of rural roads, discussing the general infrastructure for the continuation of the PAFICOT project, and financing activities that generate income.

Minister Bocary Tereta expressed concern regarding the considerable delay in the project due to low disbursement of resources, and he hoped that the PAFICOT can multiply the efforts to achieve the objectives of better rural roads in order to develop the textile and cotton industry in these countries.

Of the 4.2 billion CFA francs, 4.07 billion CFA francs would be granted by the AFDB, 116 million CFA francs by the respective Governments, and 23.09 million CFA francs by beneficiary participations.

The finances would be used to rehabilitate rural roads, further activities to promote improved seed production, research, as well as provide credit facilities for farmers for equipments.

The PAFICOT project was initiated in 2008 and aims to contribute to the reduction of rural poverty in these countries by increasing employment and income in these countries through improving the productivity of cotton and facilitating development of the textile industry.

The PAFICOT project was created by AFDB with support from the Conference of Ministers of Agriculture of West Africa and Central and West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) and the Cotton Producers Organizations (GPCs).

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India