Monthly Feed the Future Report: USAID Cereal Value Chain Project (AID-688-C-13-00002) March 2015 Report

The USAID CVC project supported the FINAGRI 2 (Salon de Financement de l'Agriculture) that took place from March 4-8, 2015 in Segou. CVC's Bamako-based financial services manager presented the experience on internal value chain financing of rice POs in the Mopti region. The presentation was highly appreciated by the participants in the technical workshop during the fair who discussed pros and cons of internal value chain financing. In Sikasso Region, assessments of marketable stocks (quantity and quality) were conducted by CVC's Sikasso-based marketing specialist and post-harvest specialist from February 27-March 15, 2015. The specialists checked with POs whether the quantities promised to wholesalers in the "intentions to sale" agreements were really available. They also checked the availability of stock management tools in the warehouses and provided advice on warehouse management. At the time of the visits to 122 POs, the mobilized stocks were 123 MT of millet and 360 MT of sorghum, substantially less than the promised 225 MT of millet and 1500 MT of sorghum. The USAID CVC project celebrated International Women's Day on March 8th with the theme "Economic Growth and Women's Empowerment, inclusive commitment for a secure, stable and emergent Mali." CVC supported an on-site presentation day of the women's cooperative, radio broadcasts about the women's cooperative, and the inauguration of the new processing unit of the women's cooperative. During the events, women showcased how they have reached, step by step, more autonomy. In Logo (Mopti), the celebration gathered 302 women's cooperatives members, four local government representatives, a delegate from the Ministry of Agriculture, and other stakeholders.