USDA offers aid to improve overseas agricultural import operations

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Wednesday that it’s accepting applications for projects in developing countries that improve the infrastructure and operations of agricultural commodity import handling facilities.    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said Wednesday that it’s accepting applications for projects in developing countries that improve the infrastructure and operations of agricultural commodity import handling facilities.
   The funds are provided through USDA’s Facility Guarantee Program (FGP).
   According to the USDA, the African continent includes many of the world’s top emerging markets, where economic growth and a growing middle class are driving consumer demand for high quality farm and food products.
   “This program is available to finance infrastructure projects that facilitate agricultural trade for the benefit of African consumers and American producers,” USDA’s Deputy Undersecretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Jonathan Cordone told attendees at the U.S.-Africa Business Forum in New York.
   Examples of projects that could be funded under the FGP include improvements to cold storage facilities for imported perishable products, purchases of equipment to upgrade processing facilities for imported grains and oilseeds, and acquisitions of vehicles to transport imported goods from ports to distribution facilities, USDA said.
   As of Sept. 21, fiscal year 2016 FGP allocations stands at $100 million.