USAID, Chevron and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development sign Memorandum of Understanding
Photo: A. Bird, USAID/Angola
USAID, Chevron, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development signed a Memorandum of Understanding on March 1st, 2007 in Benguela marking the launch of the Agriculture Development and Finance Program (ADFP) in Angola. The event took place in the province of Benguela, during which were present, among others, the Vice-Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Maria Filomena Delgado, Benguela's Governor, Dumilde Rangel, US Ambassador to Angola, Cynthia Efird, and Chevron's General Manager for Operations in Angola, Alan Kleier.
The Agriculture Development and Finance Program, known as "ProAgro Angola", is establishing connections in the market, and increasing access to financial services for farmers and other agribusinesses. The program will strengthen the capacity of producers and other agricultural enterprises, with the intent that these enterprises will improve the dialogue with the Angolan Government and private sector counterparts. It will also help strengthen production, processing, and buying and selling of defined agricultural products.
ProAgro Angola is being implemented by a consortium lead by the Cooperative League of the USA (CLUSA), which also includes ECI Africa, ADRA, and AGROMARKET, in partnership with the Institute of Agrarian Development, part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Over the next five years, Chevron and USAID will contribute USD $5.5 million towards the program. It will be implemented in the provinces of Benguela, Cuanza Sul, Bengo, Luanda, Huíla, and Huambo, where a chain of production, transformation and commercialization of products such as potatoes, bananas, coffee, and vegetables will be developed.
