Bissau, Guinea Bissau, 16 Oct – The European Commision Thursday provided 8.4 million euros to fund the agricultural sector in Guinea Bissau as part of the Project to Boost Food Safety to respond to the ride in the price of foodstuffs.

The funding from the European Commission will be distributed by the FAO (United Nations Foods and Agriculture Organisation), the World Bank and non-governmental organisations as part of the Urgent Plan of the Guinean Government, which aims to provide food aid to the most vulnerable segments of the population.

According to the representative of the EC in Guinea Bissau, ambassador Franco Nulli, the funding was provided after an analysis of “the persistent rise in the price of food products,” such as rice, the price of which has doubled since 2008.

The EC support will make it possible to fund the management of agricultural areas, 50 livestock producers and 50 farmers, organise training and stabilise the supply of basic food products.

With this measure the European Commission hopes to “quickly and directly attenuate the negative effects of food price volatility on local populations.” (macauhub)