Jumpstarting Agribusiness Markets: USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT JANUARY 1 – MARCH 31, 2016

The project focuses on four main objectives: increasing productivity of agricultural producers and linking them to markets, increasing productivity and markets for agribusiness, improving the enabling environment for agriculture sector growth, and improving the nutritional status of women and children in the zone of influence. The project's geographic focus is defined as the entirety of Naryn, Jalalabad, Osh, and Batken oblasts. Year 2 activities build on the successes from Year 1 interventions, expanding successful pilot programs and introducing new activities. The project is organized into two main categories: value chain activities and supporting activities. Value chain activities include productivity and marketing activities, while supporting activities include enabling environment and nutrition activities. The project has made significant progress in the first quarter of Year 2. A total of 7,286 farmers have been mobilized across six value chains, and 5,926 farmers have applied improved technologies and good agricultural practices in producing apricots, maize, potato, onions, fruit seedlings, and vegetables on 1,875 hectares of land. These farmers received inputs such as improved seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides and received training on good agricultural practices. The project has also created over 100 seasonal jobs in the apricot and maize value chains. The number of target value chain private enterprises is expected to increase from nine to 20 organizations in the third quarter, and the project expects to have more than 50 percent of the target met only by the third quarter. The number of individuals trained will increase significantly in the third quarter through three main interventions: demonstration days, mass trainings, and nutrition/AgWASH trainings. The project's key output indicators for Year 2 include the number of rural households benefiting directly from USG assistance, the number of target value chain private enterprises assisted, and the number of individuals trained. As of the second quarter, the project has achieved 58.3 percent of the target for rural households, 23 percent for target value chain private enterprises, and 19.5 percent for individuals trained. The project's implementation is supported by a team of experts, including agricultural business service providers, advisory services, and environmental compliance specialists. The project's monitoring and evaluation system is designed to track progress and identify areas for improvement. The project's quarterly report provides an update on the project's progress and achievements, highlighting successes and challenges. The project's enabling environment activities aim to improve the business environment for agriculture sector growth. This includes activities such as organizational capacity assessment, pasture management committee establishment, and rural advisory service development. The project's nutrition activities aim to improve the nutritional status of women and children in the zone of influence, including activities such as nutrition training and AgWASH training. The project's geographic focus is defined as the entirety of Naryn, Jalalabad, Osh, and Batken oblasts. The project's timeframes are defined as January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2017. The project's recommendations include increasing the number of target value chain private enterprises, increasing the number of individuals trained, and improving the enabling environment for agriculture sector growth.