DRC Food production, processing & marketing project (USAID-623-c-11-00008) Quarterly Report 1 January – 31 March 2014

The project aimed to increase food production, processing, and marketing in the country. The project was implemented in the Bas Congo and Bandundu provinces, with a focus on improving agricultural productivity and market access for smallholder farmers. Component 1 of the project, Increasing Productivity, focused on introducing improved crop varieties and agricultural practices to increase yields. Field visits by project staff and USAID officials were conducted in January and February to assess project progress. The project reported a 41% increase in yields from improved cultivars, with an average of 14.09 metric tons per hectare. The best-yielding varieties varied depending on the province, but TME-419 was preferred due to its size, shape, and quality. In Component 2, Improving Market Efficiencies, the project aimed to improve market access and processing capacity for farmers. The project reported that 76 Producer Organizations were assisted by 26 Field Agents in planting improved varieties of short-cycle crops on 77.56 hectares in 20 sectors of 11 territories. The project also reported that women-headed households showed higher adoption rates for all practices except mechanical land preparation. The project faced challenges, including the resignation of key staff members and the announcement of project curtailment due to shifting priorities within USAID. The project was scheduled to end on December 31, 2014, and the staff morale was affected by the need to re-focus and re-tool. The project management team faced the challenge of retaining the best staff through the Project Activity Completion Date (PACD) to ensure a strong project closure. The project also reported on Component 3, Capacity to Respond to Market Opportunities Reinforced, which aimed to enhance the capacity of farmers and producer organizations to respond to market opportunities. The project reported that the Farmer Field Schools (FFS) were established in 15 communities, and the participants showed a strong adoption of composting and crop rotation methods. The project also reported on Environmental Compliance, which aimed to ensure that the project activities were environmentally sustainable. The project reported that the Environmental Management Form (EMF) was completed, and the Environmental Mitigation, Management, and Monitoring Plan (EMMP) was developed. The project also reported on Monitoring and Evaluation, which aimed to track the project progress and impact. The project reported that the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system was established, and the key project indicators were tracked. The project also reported on the evaluation of the Rural Enterprise Farmer Field Schools and the results of the Provincial Household Studies. Overall, the FPPM project aimed to improve food production, processing, and marketing in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The project reported progress in increasing agricultural productivity, improving market access, and enhancing the capacity of farmers and producer organizations. However, the project faced challenges, including the resignation of key staff members and the announcement of project curtailment.