Monthly Report: Incentives Driving Economic Alternatives for the North, East and West (IDEA-NEW) November 2014

The program's mission is to expand the licit agricultural economy in these regions by supporting agribusinesses at different points of each value chain, improving market access, increasing processing capacity, and catalyzing investments into Afghanistan's agricultural sector. IDEA-NEW continued project activities in November 2014, with the Green Afghanistan Agriculture and Livestock Organization (GAALO) conducting the second session of pesticide safety and safe handling training in Jalalabad. A total of 16 input suppliers from Nangarhar and Laghman provinces participated in the training, which included presentations and group discussions on pest and disease problems, integrated pest management, and pesticide regulations. Practical training sessions were also conducted at the Nangarhar Department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (DAIL) Shesham Bagh research farm, where trainers demonstrated different types of sprayers, personal protection equipment, and safety measures. In addition to the pesticide safety training, Reconstruction and Social Services for Afghanistan Organization (RSSAO) conducted a five-day accounting and marketing training in Jalalabad, which was attended by 15 commercial input suppliers and processors. Farmer field days continued throughout the month, with a total of 212 farmers, 51 agriculture faculty students, and nine DAIL representatives in attendance. RSI Consulting, one of IDEA-NEW's subcontractors, also conducted two taste tests to compare the processed foods of IDEA-NEW grantees with imported goods, with local products rating higher than imported brands. The program's activities are focused on strengthening agricultural input suppliers, supporting food processors, and facilitating market entry for regional and international agribusiness retailers. IDEA-NEW has also established a cross-cutting theme to address issues such as integrated pest management, disease control, and pesticide safety. The program's challenges and concerns include the need to improve the business management, administration, and marketing capacities of input suppliers, as well as the need to address issues related to market access and processing capacity. Overall, IDEA-NEW's activities in November 2014 were focused on providing training and capacity-building support to input suppliers and food processors, as well as conducting market research and analysis to identify opportunities for growth and development in the agricultural sector. The program's goal is to create a sustainable, thriving agricultural economy in northern, eastern, and western Afghanistan, and to contribute to the U.S. Government's stabilization and counter-narcotics policy goals. The program's activities are being implemented in partnership with various Afghan government agencies, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL), the Department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (DAIL), and the Green Afghanistan Agriculture and Livestock Organization (GAALO). IDEA-NEW is also working with various international organizations, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank. The program's progress is being monitored and evaluated through a range of performance indicators, including the number of input suppliers and food processors trained, the number of farmers and agriculture faculty students participating in farmer field days, and the results of market research and analysis. The program's achievements are being documented through a range of reports and publications, including the monthly report, which provides an update on the program's activities and progress. IDEA-NEW's activities are being implemented in the provinces of Nangarhar, Laghman, and Jalalabad, with a focus on the agricultural value chains of wheat, maize, and potatoes. The program's goal is to create a sustainable, thriving agricultural economy in these regions, and to contribute to the U.S. Government's stabilization and counter-narcotics policy goals.