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Côte d’Ivoire: improved farming resources for 25,000 people
26-05-2009 News Release 09/108
Abidjan (ICRC) – On 15 May, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) began distributing maize seed and fertilizer to 25,000 people in 55 villages of northern and north-eastern Côte d’Ivoire, in the departments of Bouna, Ferkessédougou, Boundiali, Tengrela, Korhogo and Odienné.
The distribution programme will continue until the end of June. The beneficiaries will be those who have not received aid over the last two years, especially those who lost production capacity because of the high death rate among oxen used to plough the fields and those affected by the sharp drop in cotton sales.
ICRC terms working with volunteers from the Red Cross Society of Côte d’Ivoire will be distributing 75 tonnes of maize seed and 750 tonnes of fertilizer. The ICRC will also be monitoring the agricultural production of the families concerned.
“We are distributing high-quality seed and fertilizer, which will help boost production and improve the economic security of the beneficiaries,” explained Félix Casanova Cambronero, head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Korhogo. While security in the areas concerned has been improving, the effects of the crisis and the deterioration in farming resources have made people especially vulnerable.
In March, some 17,500 people from Toulepleu, Blolequin and Guiglo, in the west of the country, received seed, farming implements and fertilizer, enabling them to resume farming. In total, distributions during 2009 will help almost 50,000 people affected by the conflict in the north and west of the country. In addition, some 1,000 women received seed so they could start growing vegetables again.
The ICRC has been in Côte d’Ivoire since July 1992, and has offices in Korhogo, Bouaké, Guiglo, Man and Gagnoa. The organization works with the Red Cross Society of Côte d’Ivoire throughout the country.
For further information, please contact:
Latif Abdou Mbacke, ICRC Abidjan, tel: +225 224 000 70 or +225 09 399 404
Félix Casanova Cambronero, ICRC Korhogo, tel: +225 073 895 19 or +225 368 505 85
Marçal Izard, ICRC Geneva, tel: +41 22 730 24 58 or +41 79 217 32 24
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