EU funds seed production programme

The European Union has given the NGO consortium EuronAid €1.2 million (US $1.3 million) to fund a seed production programme in Angola. The programme hopes to increase the country's availability of maize and bean seed, much of which is currently imported, by targeting vulnerable families along the coastal and central highland regions, EuronAid representative in Angola, Renato Sangiuliano, told IRIN on Thursday. The lack of seeds and farming implements has been a major stumbling block to Angolans rebuiling their lives after years of civil war, and has a severe impact on food security in the struggling country. In addition to seed, the small-scale farmers participating in the EuronAid project will receive tools and equipment. Production is expected to start in the planting season in September, Sangiuliano said. "We decided to do this because currently Angola is importing more than 4,000 mt of seed every year and it becomes expensive when the procurement, transport and distribution costs are added." This adds to efforts by a number of NGOs who are already running programmes to provide demobilised soldiers with agriculural starter packs of tools and seeds to help them become self-sufficient. The EuronAid programme would be coordinated by local NGOs, working with the ministry of Agriculture, Sangiuliano added. EuronAid is a network of European NGOs active in food aid and food security. They also provide an interface between NGOs and the European Commission.