United States African Development Foundation (Washington, DC)
28 August 2008
press release
Washington, DC — The United States African Development Foundation signed two grants today benefitting small ginger farmers in rural Nigeria. The Sabon Sarki Boda Market Ginger Farmers’ Cooperative Society (SSGFCS) and the Macedonia Ginger Farmers’ Cooperative Society (MAGFACOS) are both located in the Kaduna State of the country and will receive $76,381 and $78,166 respectively. If the groups perform well under this project, they will be eligible to apply for a second round of funding.
Noting the importance of the grants, USADF President Lloyd Pierson stated, “Monies will directly fund these two cooperatives in an effort to fund resources. These grants help increase economic stability for poor ginger farmers.”
Both cooperatives are located in the center of the largest ginger growing area in Nigeria, but poor, rural farmers typically do not benefit from economy, unable to generate large profit margins. USADF funding will not only improve ginger production, but will support limited agro-processing and expand marketing tools available through a comprehensive business plan.
Regional Program Director Tom Coogan explained, “The grants address the concerns equated with African’s limited access to world markets. Also, they create the space required by both SSGFCS and MAGFACOS to move up the value chain by starting to process their ginger and increase the marketability of their products.”
Many marginalized groups seeking to establish successful businesses in Nigeria and across Africa lack necessary resources, including financial support. Adamu Garba, the head of the Diamond Development Initiatives, USADF’s implementing partner in Nigeria, has advocated for investing in local cooperatives and has strongly supported these projects because model increases rural farmers’ incomes at the grassroots level.
These are the second and third ginger cooperatives funded by USADF in Nigeria, with the first one, Kubacha Ginger Farmers Cooperative Society, funded in 2007. Both grants are two year Enterprise Development Investments, each targeting specific needs management and infrastructure of both cooperatives. SSGFCS, comprised of 36 members, five of whom are women, and MAGFACOS, a 50 member cooperative, will also match USADF funding, providing capacity building, technical assistance and training for farmer members, and establishing a ginger processing facility.
The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) is a United States Government agency dedicated to expanding access to economic opportunity in Africa. Currently USADF operates in 18 African nations. Over the past 25 years, USADF has directly funded nearly 1,100 African projects representing in excess of $150 million in support of African enterprises and local African communities. For more information on USADF, its programs and application guidelines, visit www.usadf.gov.
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