Ethiopia: Japan assists poor farmers to increase productivity

Addis Ababa December 25/2012 Ethiopia and Japan signed Tuesday grant agreement amounting to 5.84 million US dollars to assist poor farmers to increase their productivity. The grant will be used to purchase fertilizer to benefit poor farmers under the Food Security for Under Privileged Farmers- KRII Project. Finance and Economic Development State Minister, Ahmed Shide and Japanese Ambassador to Ethiopia, Hiroyuki Kishino signed the agreement. On the occasion, the State Minister said the grant will benefit under privileged farmers and is expected to have positive impact in the efforts to increase agricultural productivity. He said the agreement demonstrated Japan's commitment to support Ethiopia's efforts to ensure food security in the country. Ambassador Kishino on his part said the assistance aims to help Ethiopia promote food production with the supply of agricultural inputs. He reiterated his country's commitment to continue the financial and technical assistance to Ethiopia in a bid to help smallholder farmers increase agricultural productivity.