Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel – Accelerated Growth (REGIS-AG) Monthly Report August 2016

The project aims to promote resilience and economic growth in the region through the development of value chains for small ruminants, cowpea, and poultry. REGIS-AG is implemented by the Center for the Commercialization of AgriTechnology (CNFA) under USAID Contract No. AID-625-C-14-00001. In Niger, REGIS-AG has established market linkages between small ruminant producer groups and buyers from the Senegal end market. A large order of 300 goats and 500 balami sheep was finalized through a memorandum of understanding between REGIS-AG and the USAID-funded SAWKI project implemented by Mercy Corps. Market linkages were also established between a women cowpea processor and the grocery store Masaki in Niamey, which resulted in the store stocking cowpea-based value-added products. REGIS-AG has continued its market facilitation efforts by linking a woman's processing group and a Niamey grocery store called Masaki. Two stores in Niamey now stock REGIS-AG cowpea products, Baaklini and Masaki, and the products participating in this pilot experience are spaghetti made from cowpea, cowpea flour (Dan Wake), and cowpea couscous. Baaklini has already made several new orders to restock the sold product. In Burkina Faso, REGIS-AG has developed reports for the market linkages workshop between the different actors of the three value chains. Identification of cowpea women-processors and the establishment of 2 SVPP networks are underway in the Eastern Region. REGIS-AG has also implemented an organizing committee for the Kaya fair. REGIS-AG has continued its efforts to sensitize male agro-pastoralists about the importance and economic potential of women's participation in value-added projects based on VC methodology. Two community dialogue sessions were held in August, bringing together participants across four days and including 10 OPs from the municipality of Mirriah and 10 OPs from the municipality of Droum, totaling 40 OP representatives including 25 women. REGIS-AG has also conducted feasibility studies in Niger and Burkina, and where viable, facilitated access to credit for women's groups for goat milk and cheese production. The draft report for the feasibility study on goat milk and cheese production has been finalized and is under review by REGIS-AG's Access to Market Specialist. In addition, REGIS-AG has provided training sessions in each country to poultry value chain actors on biosecure poultry collection, transportation, and management. Three training sessions were organized for members of two poultry producer groups in the region of Maradi and beneficiaries of REGIS-ER poultry kits in the municipality of Bande, Zinder region. A total of 76 participants (including 70 women) from two groups of Maradi poultry farmers, beneficiaries of REGIS-ER, and SVPP networks from Guidan Roundji and Magaria participated in this training. REGIS-AG has also supported the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the IP, and the National Federation of InterProfession Groups of the Filière Bétail Viande du Niger (FNGIP-BV) in organizing fairs in Maradi, Tillabéri, and Zinder as Tabaski is approaching. REGIS-AG will support 13 representatives, 9 REGIS-AG's OPs, and InterProfession which mobilized 750 small ruminants (600 sheep and 150 goats) for the SIBVAO fair in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.