The Regional Agriculture Promotion Program is a newly established project by the Commodity Credit Corporation aimed at providing funding for purchasing commodities for food aid and export market development.
Steve Mercer, Vice President of Communications at U.S. Wheat Associates, explains the initiative.
“They are going to put forward a billion dollars to purchase commodities for food aid. In Africa, hard red winter is one of the commodities that has been purchased and shipped to Kenya, specifically, and in other areas in Africa, including soft white wheat out of the Pacific Northwest.”
Mercer says RAPP also includes a regional component that enhances export market opportunities and fosters better relationships.
“The countries where we have a very strong trade relationship where agricultural products move towards, this money would probably not be earmarked for that. But in those areas where we want to develop stronger relationships politically and otherwise. So, probably, Africa, Middle East, South America, possibly, you know those areas, so we’ll find out more about specifically those earmarks for those funding.”
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