Agricultural Innovation Support Project “PAIN” Quarterly Report Second quarter – July first, 2019 to September 30, 2019

The project aims to strengthen the capacity of Robin's CRDD and SOHADERK to provide agricultural services to the rural community of Kenscoff and manage them financially. The project's objectives include increasing agricultural productivity, strengthening the participation of producer organizations in profitable markets, improving the stabilization of some subwatersheds, and strengthening Robin's CRDD capacity to provide technical assistance to farmers, conduct applied research, and manage them financially. The project's implementation strategy involves a participative approach empowering technical staff through weekly orientation meetings, team workshops, and collaboration with small producer organizations. The project's objectives for the period from July 1 to September 30, 2019, include finalizing all technical and administrative tools essential for implementation, constituting Excel data entry and storage tools, identifying potential beneficiaries and partners, and launching all technical activities. Key achievements during this period include the official launch of the project on August 15, 2019, which brought together 341 persons, including 94 women, from various layers of the Kenscoff population. The launch ceremony included speeches from local authorities and a guided tour. Additionally, the project initiated agricultural production activities, including the cultivation of various crops such as cucumber, pepper, and bean, using seeds from SOHADERK's stock. The project also provided retraining to 55 master farmers on four modules, including Basic General Agriculture, Farm Management, Sustainable Management of the Environment and Climate Change, and Mountain Vegetable Growing in open fields and greenhouse. The retrained master farmers will participate in various project activities, such as agricultural campaigns, reforestation campaigns, and activities of Robin's CRDD. They will support other farmers in setting up their agricultural production activities, soil conservation activities, and financial calculations of agricultural holdings. The project's progress is reflected in the achievement of milestones, including the finalization of the annual work plan, the project's M&E plan, and the EMMP. The project has also made significant progress in launching all technical activities, including the retraining of master farmers and the initiation of agricultural production activities. The project's next steps include the procurement of agricultural inputs, conducting a baseline for the activity, and submitting the second quarterly report to USAID.