Annual Performance Report Year 2: October 2011 - September 2012

The project aims to enhance agricultural productivity, increase rural employment, and improve farmer access to local and regional markets in the Morogoro region. The project is organized into two components: Irrigation Infrastructure and Institutional Capacity Building. The Irrigation Infrastructure component involves the rehabilitation and development of irrigation schemes at Dakawa and Mgongola, covering an approximate total of 3,120 hectares. The project also includes the development of institutional capacity building, which involves reviewing existing capacity building and training plans prepared by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and others, with recommendations for further development and implementation. The project has undergone modifications since inception, with the initial Task Order (TO) being revised to accommodate changes identified during implementation. The project was initially planned for a 24-month period, but due to limited funding, the timeframe was reduced to 18 months. However, additional funding became available, allowing for a phased implementation approach with a 6-month Phase 1 and a 12-month Phase 2. The project team established a project office in Morogoro to provide a local, dedicated base of operations for more intensive assessments, designs, and stakeholder work. The project also shifted focus to improving the Dakawa scheme, expanding assessment and design efforts to encompass meaningful impact on farm productivity. The project team provided an implementation budget, schedule, and technical approach to accommodate USAID's available funding for a phased implementation approach. The project has made significant progress in Year 2, with the rehabilitation of the irrigation system at Dakawa and the development of institutional capacity building. The project has also implemented a phased implementation approach, with Phase 1 completed in June 2012 and Phase 2 ongoing. The project team has also established a project office in Morogoro, providing a local, dedicated base of operations for more intensive assessments, designs, and stakeholder work. The project has faced several challenges, including unresolved land tenure issues at the Dakawa scheme, which delayed implementation. However, the project team has worked to address these issues and has made significant progress in Year 2. The project has also faced challenges in implementing the phased implementation approach, but has made adjustments to ensure that the project stays on track.