AVANSE Quarterly Report - January-March 2016

The AVANSE project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), implemented various technical activities to achieve this goal. In the rice value chain, 1,951 individuals were trained in rice production, and 1,890 individuals received improved inputs, such as seeds and fertilizers, to apply new or improved technologies to more than 2,500 hectares of land. The training and input distribution were conducted in the Northeast region, where the rice nursery was established in Ouanaminthe, Section Jalendor. In the banana/plantain value chain, a partial survey was conducted as of March 31st, and the results showed that 1,331 male and 620 female individuals were trained in NRM and received improved inputs. The training and input distribution were conducted in the North region, where the CBOs implemented agro-forestry activities upstream from AVANSE's planned irrigation activities. In the cacao value chain, 1,331 male and 620 female individuals were trained in cacao production, and 1,890 individuals received improved inputs. The training and input distribution were conducted in the North region, where the cacao nursery was established in Trou du Nord. The AVANSE project also implemented various cross-cutting activities, including gender integration, environmental compliance, and communications. The project management team ensured that all activities were implemented in accordance with the project's scope of work and the USAID's requirements. The results of the second quarter of FY 2016 showed that the AVANSE project made significant progress in increasing agricultural production in the North of Haiti. The project's activities were focused on improving the productivity of smallholder farmers, increasing their access to markets, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. The AVANSE project's achievements in the second quarter of FY 2016 were reflected in the following intermediate results: - IR 1: Agricultural production increased, with a focus on the rice, banana/plantain, and cacao value chains. - IR 2: Watershed stability above selected plains improved, with a focus on the Grison Garde area. - IR 3: Agricultural markets strengthened, with a focus on post-harvest and processing activities. The AVANSE project's progress in the second quarter of FY 2016 was a significant step towards achieving its overall goal of improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the North of Haiti. The project's activities were designed to promote sustainable agricultural practices, increase agricultural productivity, and improve the access of smallholder farmers to markets. The AVANSE project's achievements in the second quarter of FY 2016 were also reflected in the following sub-results: - SUB-RESULT 1.1: Knowledge and availability of improved production technologies and systems increased, with a focus on the rice, banana/plantain, and cacao value chains. - SUB-RESULT 1.2: Strengthened extension of agricultural technologies, with a focus on the CBOs and the agro-forestry activities implemented upstream from AVANSE's planned irrigation activities. - SUB-RESULT 1.3: Access to inputs increased, with a focus on the improved seeds and fertilizers distributed to smallholder farmers. - SUB-RESULT 1.4: Irrigation rehabilitation/construction, with a focus on the Grison Garde area.