(a) Characteristics of Agricultural Non-Governmental Organisation: (i) They are established by private agendas O or corporate bodies concerned with the development of agriculture all over the world. (ii) They are not owned controlled by the government. (iii) They are privately funded. (iv) Their activities cut across many countries with r specific aims of developing improved species of crops and livestock breeds. (v) They are non-profit making. (vi) They do not pay corporate taxes.
(b)(i) Objectives of West Africa Rice Development Agency: (i) To promote the cultivation of rice within the West Africa sub-region. (ii) To develop rice species with high yield. (iii) To develop rice species with high quality. (iv) To produce rice species which can adapt to the climatic condition of West Africa sub-region. (v) To develop disease resistant varieties of rice. (vi) To develop pest resistant varieties of rice. (vii) To develop rice which can meet the nutritional needs of the West Africa sub-region.
(b)(ii) Objectives of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture: (i) To promote the cultivation of food crops such as maize, cowpea, cassava, yam and plantain within the tropics. (ii) To develop high yielding food crops. (iii) To develop food crops with high quality. (iii) To develop food crops that are resistant to diseases. (iv) To develop food crops that can adapt to the climate of tropical countries. (v) To encourage the local farmers to grow the crops approved by the institute. (vi) To improve the methods of processing food crops. (vii) To improve the utilization methods of food crops. (viii) To develop appropriate farming systems for the West Africa sub-region.
(c) Other Non-governmental Organisation involved in Agricultural Development: (i) International Livestock Research Institute/International Livestock Centre for Africa. (ii) International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). (iii) International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). (iv) International Centre for Research in Agro-forestry. (v) Action Aid (vi) ECWA Rural Development (vii) World Vision International (viii) Catholic Relief Service (ix) Hunger Project (Ghana) (x) Adventist Relief Agency (xi) Food and Agricultural Organisation