COMPETE – Q2 Progress Report

This training exceeded the initial target by 1,559 farmers, due to stronger than anticipated enrollment in the growing season. The training was delivered by 159 field officers, who were previously trained by One Acre Fund field directors and field managers on how to deliver farmer trainings. The training activities were conducted in groups of 40-50 farmers, in the fields where they live and work. Field officers reported the number of farmers trained in their weekly key performance indicators, totaling 26,559 farmers. To ensure the effectiveness of the training, field directors decided to conduct follow-up trainings in June, as well as a series of farm visits to spot check and verify that farmers are adopting the correct handling and storage techniques for maize and beans. In June 2011, One Acre Fund's Rwanda operation continued its training of 26,559 smallholder farm families. Field officers conducted follow-up trainings and visited individual farmers at their homes to observe their storage and handling practices. The follow-up trainings and farm visits aimed to reinforce the knowledge and skills acquired by farmers during the initial training. The activities were conducted in accordance with One Acre Fund's grant proposal. One Acre Fund's monitoring and evaluation department is conducting a survey of farmers to assess the quality of the trainings delivered by field officers and to determine whether farmers are following correct storage practices. The survey will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of the training program. Additionally, the monitoring and evaluation department is conducting harvest surveys and the annual baseline survey, which will allow for the determination of average production by crop, as well as the average amount traded and consumed by clients at the district level. The training program has demonstrated a strong commitment to improving the post-harvest storage and handling practices of smallholder farmers in Rwanda. The follow-up trainings and farm visits have reinforced the knowledge and skills acquired by farmers, and the ongoing monitoring and evaluation activities will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of the program. The program's focus on post-harvest storage and handling of beans and maize has the potential to improve food security and increase household income for smallholder farmers in Rwanda.