Food and Enterprise Development (FED) Program for Liberia Monthly Report June 2012

The program is being implemented in various counties across Liberia, including Nimba, Grand Bassa, Lofa, and Bong. One of the key objectives of the FED program is to increase agricultural productivity and profitability. To achieve this, the program is implementing several activities, including the improvement of access to quality agro-inputs, testing and introduction of new technologies, and increased production and profitability of quality rice and cassava. The program is also focusing on peri-urban vegetable production and goat interventions. In June 2012, the FED team conducted several training sessions, including a weekly training at 13 lowland rice demonstration sites, a three-day business skills training seminar for Liberian farmer associations, and tube well trainings in Ganta and Gbarnga. The program also conducted a teachers' training workshop, which brought together 52 teachers from the Booker T. Washington Institute and Nimba County Community College. The FED program is also working to stimulate private enterprise growth and investment. To achieve this, the program is providing targeted technical support to farmers and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The program is also working to build local human capacity by creating centers of excellence and providing training to FED staff and MoA staff. In addition, the FED program is implementing the Doumpa Community Project, which involves the transplanting of lowland rice. The project began on June 21-25, 2012, and eight of the 56 plots have been transplanted with Nerica L19. The program is also working to select 20 cassava farmer groups for demonstration of improved planting and improved cassava variety. The FED program is being implemented in partnership with various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), farmer associations, and private sector partners. The program is expected to contribute to the improvement of agricultural productivity, private enterprise growth, and human nutrition in Liberia. The program's monitoring and evaluation activities are ongoing, with regular tracking of FED STTAs and LTTAs. The program is also working to ensure environmental compliance and is implementing the Market Development Fund (MDF) to support the growth of private enterprise. Overall, the FED program is making significant progress in achieving its component objectives, including increasing agricultural productivity and profitability, stimulating private enterprise growth, and building local human capacity. The program's activities are expected to contribute to the improvement of agricultural productivity, private enterprise growth, and human nutrition in Liberia.