Monthly Report—April 2015: Incentives Driving Economic Alternatives for the North, East and West (IDEA-NEW)

Launched in March 2009, the program's mission is to support agribusinesses at different points of each value chain to improve market access, increase processing capacity and catalyze investments into Afghanistan's agricultural sector. IDEA-NEW continued project activities during the month of April, signing one matching grant and four live radio show grants with businesses in the eastern region and one matching grant, three SMS marketing grants and three live radio show grants with businesses in the central region. A fixed obligation grant was awarded to Control Union on April 16 to conduct a one-day Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) workshop and a 10-day HACCP training for food processors in the central and eastern regions. The program's SMS initiative is an innovative way to ensure that commercially sustainable agricultural information is delivered to farmers in a timely, cost-effective and efficient manner. IDEA-NEW provides SMS grants to local ag-input wholesalers, who will cover the entire cost of SMS messaging when IDEA-NEW assistance ends. During the month of April, SMS grants were signed with three companies based in the central region, including Parwan Bastan Improved Seeds Company, Aslamzada Agriculture Services Company, and Sefatullah Lalzai Ltd. IDEA-NEW also hosted an 'Effective SMS Writing' workshop for 17 representatives from six ag-input suppliers and one Nangarhar DAIL representative in Jalalabad on April 29. Current SMS grantees sent a total of 23 messages during the reporting period to the nearly 8,000 farmers and 800 retailers and fruit nursery growers/associations in their databases in Kabul, Parwan, Kapisa, Nangarhar, Laghman and Kunar provinces. In addition, input suppliers utilized SMS messages to reach their retailers outside of the IDEA-NEW coverage area. The program's activities support agribusinesses at different points of each value chain to improve market access, increase processing capacity and catalyze investments into Afghanistan's agricultural sector. IDEA-NEW's SMS initiative is an innovative way to ensure that commercially sustainable agricultural information is delivered to farmers in a timely, cost-effective and efficient manner. The program's activities also include HACCP training for food processors, Access to Finance (A2F) workshops, and live radio show grants to promote agricultural information and products. IDEA-NEW's program activities are focused on the northern, eastern and western regions of Afghanistan, where the program aims to expand the licit agricultural economy and support agribusinesses. The program's activities are designed to improve market access, increase processing capacity and catalyze investments into Afghanistan's agricultural sector. The program's SMS initiative is an innovative way to ensure that commercially sustainable agricultural information is delivered to farmers in a timely, cost-effective and efficient manner. The program's activities are supported by a range of stakeholders, including local ag-input wholesalers, farmers, retailers, and fruit nursery growers/associations. The program's activities are also supported by international organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The program's activities are designed to improve the livelihoods of farmers and rural communities in Afghanistan, and to contribute to the country's economic development.