IN a stride toward enhancing agropastoral development, digitisation, and market access in Guinea, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has sealed a $28 million loan agreement with the country’s transitional government. The accord, aimed at fostering agricultural growth and modernisation in the West African nation, was formalised on August 3, 2023, in Conakry.
Signatories to the agreement included the Bank’s Country Manager in Guinea, Léandre Bassolé, and Guinea’s Minister of the Economy and Finance, Moussa Cissé. The ceremony was graced by distinguished officials, including Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Rose Pola Pricemou, and Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Farming, Mamoudou Nagnalen Barry.
The pivotal Project to Support Agropastoral Development, Digitisation, and Market Access in Guinea received approval from the Bank’s Board of Directors on July 14, 2023. This initiative strives to amplify agriculture’s contribution to Guinea’s economic advancement, ensuring sustenance and nutritional security for rural households, while also augmenting their financial inclusion and capacity to combat climate change impacts.
The project holds a twofold focus – encouraging the cultivation of maize and soya for utilisation in poultry and livestock feed, and fostering processing and marketing infrastructure development for these sectors, including the establishment of grazing facilities. By doing so, the project will empower agricultural producers and livestock farmers, fortify their resistance to climate shifts, and champion gender equality and women’s empowerment within the agricultural realm.
Minister Cissé underscored the project’s pioneering aspects, particularly in the domains of digitisation and financial inclusion. He emphasised the potential for better information access and more secure income for producers. Stressing the importance of meticulous execution, Cissé urged all key stakeholders, particularly the project management unit, to demonstrate diligence and adeptness in bringing the project to fruition.
He conveyed the government’s gratitude to the African Development Bank for its unwavering support for Guinea’s developmental strides. Minister Cissé, also serving as the Bank’s Country Governor, remarked, ‘We are delighted with the quality of our cooperation and the impact the project will have on the people of Guinea, not only through improving food and nutritional security but also the incomes of agricultural producers and livestock farmers.’
Sharing in the enthusiasm, Bassolé commended the anticipated positive impact of the project on Guinea’s livelihoods. He urged those responsible for implementation to judiciously utilize the mobilized resources. Bassolé extended gratitude to the Guinean government for their collaborative efforts, especially in the preliminary stages of project preparation. The agreement marks a significant stride towards positioning Guinea’s agricultural sector on a trajectory of sustainable growth and innovation.