Quarterly Report: October – December 2018: USAID’s Avansa Agrikultura Project

The project's overall purpose is to accelerate inclusive and sustainable economic growth through increased productivity and profitability of the horticulture value chain, as well as support nutrition-smart agriculture interventions that promote increased food production, agriculture income, and women's empowerment. The project supports the Development Objective of the USAID/Timor-Leste Mission, which is to strengthen institutional and human capacity for development to improve the lives of Timor-Leste's citizens. To achieve this objective, the project has two Sub-Purposes and two Embedded Themes. Sub-Purpose 1 focuses on improving the ability of Timorese citizens to engage in economic activities, while Sub-Purpose 2 aims to increase the productivity of selected horticultural value chains. Within Sub-Purpose 1, four activities are being implemented: strengthening market linkages, supporting the development of agribusiness and agri-support service providers, regulatory and trade policy improvements, and improving the capacities of government to support horticulture development and improve nutrition. Under Sub-Purpose 2, two activities are being implemented: conducting tailored training to improve productivity and integrating natural resource management and nutrition training with farmer groups. During the reporting period of October to December 2018, significant activities were undertaken. Under Sub-Purpose 1, seven collectors received grants to purchase vehicles to collect fruits and vegetables from farmers to deliver to markets. The collectors were trained in business management practices and connected to farmers and buyers. Despite heavy rains, the seven collectors purchased and sold 14,679 kilograms of fresh produce worth $39,596 this quarter. The collectors' sales were as follows: Agfesbamo purchased and sold 2,688 kilograms of 18 products worth $5,568; Megedova purchased and sold 2,748 kilograms of 15 products worth $5,759; Laledu purchased and sold 7,880 kilograms of 20 products worth $24,666; Beralau purchased and sold 248.15 kilograms of 5 products worth $622; and Sara Collector purchased and sold an unspecified quantity of products worth $1,500. The project also continued to support the development of agribusiness and agri-support service providers, regulatory and trade policy improvements, and improving the capacities of government to support horticulture development and improve nutrition. The project's Embedded Themes, which include Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture and Incorporating women and youth, were also implemented during the reporting period. The project's sustainability is supported by work to maintain sound policies and an enabling environment relevant to the sector, as well as efforts to increase resilience to climate change and improve natural resource management as it relates to farm systems. The project's overall goal is to accelerate inclusive and sustainable economic growth through increased productivity and profitability of the horticulture value chain, as well as support nutrition-smart agriculture interventions that promote increased food production, agriculture income, and women's empowerment.