USDA donates 200,000 tonnes of US crops to Jordan
Date: 13-Sep-02
Country: USA
USDA did not detail what crops would be donated.
Jordan's government plans to sell the U.S. commodities and use the proceeds to help finance domestic projects to boost farm productivity and improve water conservation.
The supply period for the donation is fiscal 2002, which ends Sept. 30.
The donation was made under the USDA's Section 416(b) program, created to respond to emergency needs and to reduce crop surpluses.
Separately, the USDA also announced food donations to Lebanon, Ecuador and Pakistan.
USDA said it donated 40,000 tonnes of U.S. wheat, valued at $5.5 million, for use in Lebanon. Ecuador will receive 27,000 tonnes of wheat, valued at $3.9 million.
USDA said it donated 37,800 tonnes of U.S. soybean oil worth more than $21.7 million to Pakistan.
The commodities will be sold locally by either government agencies or private voluntary organizations. The proceeds will be used to improve agricultural production and enhance economic opportunities.