2nd Quarterly Report (July-Sept 2012) for Agrodealer Trade Across Borders (ATAB) Project

The project focuses on linking agrodealers to buyers, enhancing market access, and promoting cross-border trade. During the second quarter of 2012, significant progress was made towards program deliverables. Market linkage workshops were held in Uganda and Tanzania, bringing together grain traders, institutions, and border officers to discuss challenges and establish formal market linkages. A total of 135 people attended these meetings, with 67 agrodealers and 20 buyers participating. A consultative stakeholders' meeting was also held at the Border Point Lodge in Isebania, Kenya, to address challenges faced by grain traders in trading across the Sirari/Isebania border point. The meeting brought together 35 stakeholders from various institutions and border officers from both Kenya and Tanzania. Familiarization and sensitization trips were made to South Sudan and Rwanda to meet with grain traders and familiarize with cross-border grain trade. In South Sudan, the trip focused on the Uganda/South Sudan border, while in Rwanda, the trip centered on the Uganda/Rwanda border. Monitoring and evaluation activities were conducted during the reporting period, with two consultants collecting data from agrodealers after linking them to buyers during the market linkage workshops. Partnerships were also established with various organizations involved in the agriculture sector, including Uganda's EAGC, URA, and MAAIF-COMESA, and Tanzania's TRA, TFDA, and TBS. Key achievements in the second quarter include: - 1,922 smallholder farmers selling grain to agrodealers - 2,127 metric tons of grains purchased by agrodealers from smallholder farmers - $5,209,925 in value of grains purchased by agrodealers from smallholder farmers - 19 agrodealers supplying grain to cross-border buyers - 838 metric tons of grains sold by agrodealers across the border - $285,811 in value of grains sold by agrodealers across the border - 27 agrodealers signing contracts with buyers - 46 contracts signed and serviced between agrodealers and grain traders - 2,540 metric tons of grains supplied by agrodealers under these contracts - 1,547 farmers signing contracts with agrodealers to supply grains - 26 contracts signed and serviced between agrodealers and farmers - 2,484 metric tons of grains supplied by farmers under these contracts The project has established partnerships with various organizations and has made significant progress in linking agrodealers to buyers, enhancing market access, and promoting cross-border trade. However, challenges remain, including unclear rules and regulations on customs requirements, which need to be addressed to ensure the project's success.