[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4378 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4378

   To establish a grant program in the Department of Agriculture to 
 support bilateral exchange programs whereby African-American farmers 
 and other agricultural farming specialists share technical knowledge 
 with African farmers regarding maximization of crop yields, expansion 
   of trade in agricultural products, and ways to improve farming in 
                    Africa, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 4, 2000

Mrs. Clayton (for herself, Mr. Clay, Ms. Kilpatrick, Ms. McKinney, Mrs. 
 Meek of Florida, Mr. Hilliard, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Davis of Illinois, 
   Mr. Clyburn, Mr. Rush, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Hastings of 
Florida, Mr. Payne, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. Carson, Mr. Towns, 
    Mr. Owens, Mr. Wynn, Ms. Brown of Florida, Mr. Scott, and Mrs. 
 Christensen) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
     Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on 
International Relations, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To establish a grant program in the Department of Agriculture to 
 support bilateral exchange programs whereby African-American farmers 
 and other agricultural farming specialists share technical knowledge 
 with African farmers regarding maximization of crop yields, expansion 
   of trade in agricultural products, and ways to improve farming in 
                    Africa, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Farmers for Africa Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Many African farmers use antiquated techniques to 
        produce their crops, which results in poor crop quality and low 
        crop yields.
            (2) Many African farmers are losing business to farmers in 
        European and Asian countries who use advanced planting and 
        production techniques and are supplying agricultural produce to 
        restaurants, resorts, tourists, grocery stores, and other 
        consumers in Africa.
            (3) A need exists for the training of African farmers in 
        state-of-the-art farming techniques regarding insecticide and 
        sanitation procedures and other methods that will produce 
        increased yields of more nutritious and healthful crops.
            (4) African-American farmers and American agricultural 
        farming specialists are a ready source of agribusiness 
        expertise that would be invaluable for African farmers.
            (5) A United States commitment is appropriate to support 
        the development of a comprehensive agricultural skills training 
        program for African farmers that focuses on--
                    (A) improving knowledge of insecticide and 
                sanitation procedures to prevent crop destruction;
                    (B) teaching modern farming techniques;
                    (C) the use and maintenance of state-of-the-art 
                farming equipment;
                    (D) expansion of small farming operations into 
                agribusiness enterprises; and
                    (E) marketing crop yields to prospective purchasers 
                (businesses and individuals) for local needs and 
                export.
            (6) The participation of African-American farmers and 
        American agricultural farming specialists in such a training 
        program promises the added benefit of improving access to 
        African markets for American farmers and United States farm 
        equipment and products.

SEC. 3. FARMERS FOR AFRICA PROGRAM.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture.
            (2) African farmer.--The term ``African farmer'' means an 
        individual owning or working on land (as defined by a 
        particular country's laws relating to property) in the sub-
        Saharan region of the continent of Africa.
            (3) Agricultural farming specialist.--The term 
        ``agricultural farming specialist'' means an individual trained 
        to transfer information and technical support relating to 
        agribusiness.
    (b) Establishment of Program.--The Secretary shall establish a 
grant program, to be known as the ``Farmers for Africa Program'', to 
assist eligible organizations to carry out bilateral exchange programs 
whereby African-American farmers and other agricultural farming 
specialists share technical knowledge with African farmers regarding 
maximization of crop yields, expansion of trade in agricultural 
products, and other ways to improve farming in Africa.
    (c) Eligible Grantees.--The Secretary may make a grant under this 
section to--
            (1) a college or university, including a historically black 
        college or university, or a foundation maintained by a college 
        or university; and
            (2) a private organization or corporation, including 
        grassroots organizations, with an established and demonstrated 
        capacity to carry out such a bilateral exchange program.
    (d) Terms of Program.--(1) It is the goal of the Farmers for Africa 
Program that at least 1,000 farmers participate in the training program 
by December 31, 2005, of which at least 800 will be African farmers and 
200 will be American farmers.
    (2) African farmers will be trained in groups to ensure that 
information is shared and passed on to other farmers. African farmers 
will be trained to be specialists in their communities and encouraged 
not to retain enhanced farming technology for their own personal 
enrichment.
    (3) Through partnerships with American businesses, the program will 
utilize the commercial industrial capability of businesses dealing in 
agriculture to train African farmers on state-of-the-art equipment.
    (e) Selection of Participants.--(1) The selection of African 
farmers, as well as African-American farmers and other agricultural 
farming specialists, to participate in the Farmers for Africa Program 
shall be made by grant recipients using an application process approved 
by the Secretary.
    (2) Participating farmers must meet certain educational 
requirements and targets regarding the productivity of their farm or 
agribusiness.
    (f) Grant Period.--The Secretary may make grants under the Farmers 
for Africa Program during a period of 5 years beginning on the date of 
the enactment of this Act.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2001 through 2005.
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