The AfDB approved a $123mln loan to support Senegal’s emergency agricultural program. The funds will help small-scale farmers grow a targeted 38mln tons of wheat, corn, rice and soybeans over the next two years. The loan is the first approved under the Bank’s $1.5bln African Emergency Food Production Facility, which seeks to avert a looming crisis exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the AfDB president said Africa will need about $424bln to deal with the lingering effects of Covid-19, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will hit up to 50% of Africa’s agricultural production.