USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT

To achieve this goal, the project focuses on increasing productivity of agricultural producers and linking them to markets, as well as improving the enabling environment for agriculture sector growth. The project's geographic focus is defined as the entirety of Naryn, Jalalabad, Osh, and Batken oblasts. Year 2 activities build on the successes from Year 1 interventions, which were designed to identify program opportunities. Successful pilot programs were expanded, including value chain concepts, and new activities were developed based on entry points identified. Program activities are broken down into two main categories: value chain activities and supporting activities. Value chain activities include the development of priority value chains that present viable opportunities for engaging smallholder farmers and improving the value chain to realize market opportunities. The project identified and narrowed down priority value chains, including seed and ware (eating) potatoes, apricot, onion, maize, and nursery (fruit trees). Value chain concepts under development during the period include livestock, gender-sensitive agriculture (berries), and nutrition improvement kitchen gardening. The project reached 4,396 smallholder farmers, with 47 percent being women, through a combination of capacity building and facilitation of market linkages throughout the crop season. One of the project's success stories is the seed potato pilot plot in Chong Alai region, Osh Oblast, which doubled farmers' harvest income. The project provided training in agricultural practices and better access to seed potatoes, leading to improved income and security for farmers. The project's achievements are a result of its focus on value chain development, capacity building, and facilitation of market linkages. The project's quarterly cumulative accomplishments include the development of value chain concepts, completion of grants and subcontracts, and reaching smallholder farmers with capacity building and market linkages. The project's geographic focus and quarterly accomplishments demonstrate its commitment to improving agricultural productivity and linking farmers to markets in the Kyrgyz Republic.