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The World Bank Board of Directors approved a $50 million project to improve agricultural technology in Angola and Lesotho and agricultural productivity in southern Africa.

APPSA's focus on agriculture technology addresses the need to improve the competitiveness and resilience of African agriculture using regional integration as a key mechanism to achieve higher rates of growth and poverty reduction.

While agricultural productivity has increased in Southern Africa, Angola and Lesotho's average yields are below the regional average. This project is expected to help narrow these gaps with additional investment in technology adaptation and dissemination.

"This project will help researchers, farmers, extension agents, input distributors and other end users in Angola and Lesotho to strengthen linkages between themselves and other participating countries," said Mark Cackler, World Bank Agriculture Practice Manager.

This will be done under the ongoing World Bank financed Agriculture Productivity Program for Southern Africa (APPSA).The plan covers three other countries in the region; Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia.