Agriculture.com
November 11

USDA will provide a grant of 2,500 tons of nonfat dry milk to the government of Uzbekistan for fiscal year 2004, Ag Secretary Ann Veneman announced today. She said discussions between the two countries concerning 2004 assistance are ongoing.

During fiscal year 2003, USDA provided $26 million in food assistance, including $11 million in powdered milk and $15 million in rice and vegetable oil that will be delivered early next year. Donations of nonfat dry milk were used for a school feeding program to improve nutrition and attendance among children, and some of the milk was also sold to provide technical assistance to the dairy industry.

Veneman said the soybean oil and rice will be used to support agricultural restructuring, development of markets and rural extension, improved water management and food safety policies, USDA said.

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