Canada and the Netherlands have both contributed 3.5 billion CFAF for the implementation of the Rice Initiative launched in June by Malian Prime Minister Modibo Sidibe, official sources said. The Netherlands contributed 1.3 billion CFAF while Canada gave 2.2 Billion CFAF. The documents on the contributions were signed Thursday in Bamako by Malian Foreign and International Cooperation Minister, Moctar Ouane, the Representative of the Canadian Embassy in Mali, Ives Pétillon, as well as the Chargé d’Affaires of the Netherlands Embassy, Jacob Waslander. Under the Rice Initiative, Mali aims to produce about 1 million tonnes of rice during the 2008-2009 season to help the country to meet its rice requirements, estimated at 900,000 tonnes per year.
