Latest News Release From IFDC:

Cotton Conference of West and Central Africa, Organized by CORAF/WECARD, INRAB and IFDC, Proves Successful

Cotonou, Benin, June 13, 2005—Cotonou, Benin, was the setting for the Cotton Conference of West and Central Africa, conducted during May 10-12, 2005. The main theme of the workshop was “The Evolution in Progress in the Cotton Sub-Sectors: Consequences for Research and the Acquisition of Inputs by Farmers.” This conference aimed at meeting the expectations expressed by the partners of the sub-sector, namely researchers, producers, inputs suppliers, ginners, spinners and seeds manufacturers and the umbrella organizations—the International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA) and CropLife.

June 13, 2005 | Read Full Release

Toward a Regulatory Framework for the Registration of Crop Protection Products in West Africa

Abomey Calavi, Benin, June 13, 2005—Under the aegis of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) and UEMOA (West Africa Economic and Monetary Union), a regional consultative workshop was held during April 5-6, 2005, at the Abomey Calavi, Benin station of IITA (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture). The goal of the workshop was to develop a roadmap for harmonizing the regulatory framework for crop protection products (CPPs) in West Africa. The workshop was held in conjunction with the annual meeting of CropLife Africa and the Middle East

June 13, 2005 | Read Full Release

Working in Collaboration with IFDC and FAO, WAEMU Plants the Seeds of a Regional Seed Law

Lome, Togo, December 30, 2004—A regional workshop was held in Lome during November 25-26, 2004, to review and validate two technical reports that will serve as building blocks for harmonizing seed laws and regulations governing seed marketing within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). This workshop was the second of a series of meetings initiated under WAEMU’s leadership with funding support from the IFDC Managing Inputs Regionally (MIR) project and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). MIR is funded by the Netherlands Ministry for Development Cooperation (DGIS). The German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) and the West Africa Seed Network (WASNET) are technical collaborators in this endeavor.

December 30, 2004 | Read Full Release

The Federation of African Agri-Input Trade Associations (FACIA) is Born

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, October 27, 2004—The Federation of African Agri-Input Trade Associations (FACIA) was created on October 7, 2004, in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), following the General Constitutive Assembly of October 5 and 6.

October 21, 2004 | Read Full Release

Dr. Peter McPherson Named IFDC’s New Board Chair

Muscle Shoals, AL (U.S.A.), October 21, 2004—Today IFDC’s Board of Directors elected Dr. Peter McPherson as its new Chair. The Center’s new Board Chair has ties to its first Chairman, Dr. John A. Hannah in that McPherson’s grandfather nominated Dr. Hannah to be President of Michigan State University (MSU) in 1941. Fifty-two years later McPherson was selected as MSU’s 19th president.

October 21, 2004 | Read Full Release

Kyrgyz Trade Association Achieves Remarkable Lobbying Feat

Osh, Kyrgyzstan, June 16, 2004—The Association of Agribusinessmen of Kyrgyzstan (AAK), an IFDC-supported trade association (through funding from USAID), has accomplished an historical feat for the agricultural sector in the Kyrgyz Republic by successfully spearheading a lobbying and advocacy effort towards the elimination of the value-added tax (VAT) on fertilizer and crop protection products (CPPs). The removal of this tax translates into millions of dollars saved for small and large farmers, fertilizer dealers, and CPP suppliers. Ultimately this saving will result in production of food for the Kyrgyz consumer at lower prices while at the same time discouraging the supply of low-quality contraband products.

June 16, 2004 | Read Full Release

CTA/IFDC Workshop Strengthens Market Information Systems in West Africa

Lome, Togo, June 8, 2004—The Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) and IFDC—an International Center for Soil Fertility and Agricultural Development—organized a workshop on Market Information Systems (MIS) with logistical support from the Computer Community Center of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This workshop was conducted at IFDC’s Africa Division Office in Lome, Togo, during May 3 -7, 2004. Twenty MIS professionals from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo attended the workshop to strengthen their capacities in data collection and dissemination.

June 8, 2004 | Read Full Release

IFDC and CILSS Formalize Their Cooperation

Lome, Togo, June 4, 2004—IFDC, an International Center for Soil Fertility and Agricultural Development, and the International Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel—Comité Inter-Eats de Lutte contre la Sécheresse dans le Sahel (CILSS) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on May 1, 2004, in Ougadougou, Burkina Faso

June 4, 2004 | Read Full Release

IFDC Launches a Network to Support Agricultural Intensification in Sub-Saharan Africa

Lome, Togo, March 12, 2004—On February 13, 2004, the Africa Division of IFDC and its partners launched the Network for Agricultural Intensification in sub-Saharan Africa (AISSA). The official launching ceremony, which was held at Hotel Sarakawa in Lomé, Togo, was attended by 100 participants including AISSA’s members and other invited guests from national and international research and development organizations and donor agencies.

March 20, 2004 | Read Full Release

IFDC Taps New Director of its Africa Division

Muscle Shoals, AL (U.S.A.)-January 14, 2004-"I believe that agriculture is the engine for development in West Africa and that development starts at the interface between development research, farmers, the financial and private sectors, politics, and trade," says Jan Jacob Robert (Rob) Groot, the newly appointed Director of IFDC's Africa Division.  "I feel that I will be able to make a significant contribution to IFDC's impact on sustainable development." 

January 14, 2004 | Read Full Release

A Regional Input Market (MIR) Project Paves the Way for Regional Integration in West Africa

The spirit of integration permeated the Conference Room of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on November 4, 2003.

November 26, 2003 | Read Full Release

IFDC Conducts Policy Workshop in Baku, Azerbaijan

Baku, Azerbaijan, April 28, 2003—The President of the Association of Agribusinessmen of Kyrgyzstan—Asilbek Jeenbekov—appreciates the opportunity of attending a recent IFDC policy workshop in Azerbaijan.  “Private sector dealers confront many constraints such as lack of access to credit and information, unfavorable tax policies, absence of truth-in-labeling legislation and enforcement, delays in registering new seed varieties, and other impediments,” says Jeenbekov.  “During the Baku workshop I discovered that I am not alone—entrepreneurs in most of the countries in our region have similar challenges.”

April 28, 2003 | Read Full Release

West African Partners Launch the MIR Project

The first meeting of the Marketing Inputs Regionally (MIR) project was held in Lome, Togo, during March 4-5, 2003.  With its key partners—the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)—MIR aim to create a regional inputs market.

April 28, 2003 | Read Full Release

The Burkina Faso Government and IFDC Strengthen Their Cooperation  

Lome, Togo—The Honorable Minister of Finance and Budget, Jean-Baptiste M.P. Compaore, and the Director of IFDC’s Africa Division, Dr. Henk Breman, on behalf of IFDC’s President and Chief Executive Officer, signed a memorandum of understanding on February 10, 2003.  By signing this memorandum, IFDC strengthens its support to the Burkina Faso Government by implementing policies that intensify agricultural production through the Integrated Soil Fertility Management.

March 10, 2003 | Read Full Release

Archived News Releases from IFDC:

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate to Visit IFDC
February 27, 2003 | Read Full Release

IFDC Africa Inaugurates the AFAMIN Website
February 27, 2003 | Read Full Release

Second Regional Meeting of Agricultural Input Sector Trade Associations Paves Way for Regional Federation
February 27, 2003 | Read Full Release

Symposium on Policy Reforms Stresses Need to Advance Regional Integration to Support Agricultural Market Development in West Africa
February 27, 2003 | Read Full Release

IFDC Innovative Technology Increases Farmers’ Agricultural Productivity, Maintains Resource Base
December 16, 2002 | Read Full Release

Field trip: Afghan Minister Comes to Colbert for Farm Advice
December 16, 2002 | Read Full Release

Tiny Bees Unite Kosovar Serbs and Kosovar Albanians
December 11, 2002 | Read Full Release

IFDC Contributes to the Restoration of Afghanistan's Library Collections
December 11, 2002 | Read Full Release

IFDC Scientists Say Plight of Farmers Spans the Globe
October 28, 2002 | Read Full Release

Farmers Get Help From Outer Space
October 19, 2002 | Read Full Release

IFDC Receives Grant from USAID for Ghana Project
September 30, 2002 | Read Full Release

David J. Garms Joins IFDC
September 30, 2002 | Read Full Release

Local Agency Helps on World Stage
September 4, 2002 | Read Full Release

Training of Afghan Farmers and Agricultural Inputs Dealers, an Integral Part of IFDC Project
August 29, 2002 | Read Full Release

Let it grow: IFDC helps Afghan farmers bring home the harvest
August 27, 2002 | Read Full Release

Rebuilding Afghanistan’s Agriculture Sector—One Brick at a Time
August 26, 2002 | Read Full Release

IFDC Technical Assistance in Afghanistan Has Many Facets
August 20, 2002 | Read Full Release

IFDC-Developed Voucher System Paves Way for Afghan Competitive Market
August 19, 2002 | Read Full Release

Toward a Greener Future in Afghanistan
Mangoes, Cherries and Nuts Return to the Marketplace
August 16, 2002 | Read Full Release

IFDC and USAID in Afghanistan
Building a More Fertile Future for the Agriculture Sector
August 15, 2002 | Read Full Release

Afghanistan Farmers and Fertilizer Dealers Profit from IFDC’s Project in Their Country
June 18, 2002 | Read Full Release

Former Director of IFDC’s Outreach Division Jim Schultz Passes Away
May 20, 2002 | Read Full Release

IFDC Decision Support System :  Feasibility of Legume Use
May 6, 2002 | Read Full Release

Let It Grow:  IFDC Helping Afghan Farmers
May 1, 2002 | Read Full Release

Ian Gregory Named Director of IFDC’s Market Development Division
April 11, 2002 | Read Full Release

Agribusiness Project in Kyrgyzstan Makes Strides
March 29, 2002 | Read Full Release

IFDC Project in Bangladesh Improves Quality of Life for Farm Families
March 28, 2002 | Read Full Release

IFDC to Help Revitalize Agricultural Production in Afghanistan
March 13, 2002 | Read Full Release

IFDC Plants Seeds of Change in Azerbaijan
March 05, 2002 | Read Full Release

Regional Partners of the Integrated Soil Fertility Management Project Evaluate Achievements and Prospects
March 05, 2002 | Read Full Release

IFDC Releases New Publication--Implications of the Uruguay Round Agreements for Agriculture and Agribusiness Development in Bangladesh
February 28, 2002 | Read Full Release

IFDC Launches Nigeria Project
February 20, 2002 | Read Full Release

IFDC’s Africa Division Strengthens Trade Associations Involved in Fertilizer, Seeds and Plant Protection Sectors
January 11, 2002 | Read Full Release

IFDC Restructures to Accommodate Expanded Mandate
January 2, 2002 | Read Full Release

IFDC-Africa Strengthens Peasant and Farmers’ Organizations
November 20, 2001 | Read Full Release

IFDC-Albania’s Chief of Party, Claude Freeman Receives Golden Award from Government of Albania
October 24, 2001 | Read Full Release

IFDC Roundup--Fertilizers and Agriculture, November 2001
October 24, 2001 | See Press Release for more details

Foundation of the Alliance of Kosova Agribusiness
September 07, 2001 | See Press Release for more details

Nigerian Delegation Visits IFDC
August 07, 2001 | See Press Release for more details

IFDC Conducts Workshop on Phosphate Rock in Malaysia
July 30, 2001 | See Press Release for more details

"Seeing is Believing" for Kosovar Farmers
June 27, 2001 | See Press Release for more details

Seminar in Pristina Focuses on Future of Agriculture in Kosovo
June 27, 2001 | See Press Release for more details

First Congress of Albanian Agribusiness Council (KASH) Draws Impressive Audience
June 06, 2001 | See Press Release for more details

IFDC’s Project in Albania Nourishes Budding Agribusinesses
June 06, 2001 | See Press Release for more details

IFDC Project in Albania Advances that Country’s Economic Growth
May 02, 2000 | See Press Release for more details

Special Recognition of IFDC by Farm Chemicals International
December 08, 1999 | See Press Release for more details

Muscle Shoals Organization Helping Fertilize World's Fields
November 29, 1999 | See Press Release for more details

New IFDC Video Focuses on Soil Health and Agribusiness Development in Africa, Bangladesh, and Albania
November 16, 1999 | See Press Release for more details

New Fertilizer Manual Released
April 10, 1998 | See Press Release for more details