Quarterly Report January-March 2011: USAID-Inma Agribusiness Program

The program supports two critical agricultural commodity clusters in Iraq: Livestock-Protein and Horticulture. The Livestock-Protein cluster includes beef, lamb, fish, and poultry value chains, while the Horticulture cluster is organized by production system, including greenhouse crops, open field crops, orchards, vines, olives, and other specialty crops. In the North geographic focus area, the winter-cold season limits growth and typically results in farmers stopping or limiting production. Livestock farmers often stop stocking animals due to a lack of understanding on how to maintain them in cold weather, resulting in a lost growing cycle. Aquaculture demand for fish feed is also lower during this season, and forage production is limited as it is a warm-season crop. However, the winter season presents an opportunity for off-season greenhouse production in the Central geographic focus area, allowing farmers to receive higher returns with vegetables. The Livestock-Protein team achieved significant results during this quarter. The production goal of 660,000 kilograms of red meat by program-assisted commercial feedlots was exceeded, with 66,137 kilograms of red meat produced, valued at $618,820. Additionally, sales from program-assisted feedlots exceeded the target, reaching $3,300,000. The program's efforts in the Livestock-Protein cluster have contributed to the growth of the agriculture and agribusiness sectors in Iraq. The Horticulture cluster also made progress during this quarter. In the South and Southeast geographic areas, the subtropical climate allows for regular open crop production. The program's support for greenhouse production in the Central geographic focus area has enabled farmers to receive higher returns with vegetables during the off-season. However, the winter season's limited growth and lower demand for fish feed have presented challenges for the program. The program's overall goal is to promote economic diversification and job generation in Iraq, with an emphasis on the growth of the agriculture and agribusiness sectors. The USAID-Inma Agribusiness Program has made significant progress in achieving this goal, particularly in the Livestock-Protein cluster. The program's efforts have contributed to the growth of the agriculture and agribusiness sectors in Iraq, and its continued support is essential for sustaining this progress. The program's implementation is guided by the Annual Work Plan and the Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP). The program's activities are focused on providing agricultural and business development services to USAID beneficiaries in strategic locations in Iraq. The program's support for the Livestock-Protein and Horticulture clusters has enabled farmers to improve their productivity and profitability, contributing to the growth of the agriculture and agribusiness sectors in Iraq. The program's progress is monitored and evaluated through the PMP, which tracks the program's outputs and outcomes. The program's performance is also evaluated through the use of key performance indicators (KPIs), which measure the program's progress against its objectives. The program's continued support is essential for sustaining its progress and achieving its overall goal of promoting economic diversification and job generation in Iraq. The program's activities are implemented by a team of experts, led by the Chief of Party, Gerald Turnbull. The team includes the Deputy Chief of Party, Tim Kock, and other program staff, who work together to implement the program's activities and achieve its objectives. The program's implementation is also supported by a number of partners, including the Government of Iraq, non-governmental organizations, and private sector companies. The program's budget for the current quarter is $X, which is allocated to support the program's activities in the Livestock-Protein and Horticulture clusters. The program's budget is managed by the program's financial management team, which is responsible for ensuring that the program's funds are used efficiently and effectively to achieve its objectives.