USAID Agro Horizon Project Year Two Annual Report

To achieve this goal, the project focused on four main objectives: increasing productivity of agricultural producers and linking them to markets, increasing productivity and markets for agribusiness, improving the enabling environment for agriculture sector growth, and improving the nutritional status of women and children in the zone of influence. The project's geographic focus was the entirety of Naryn, Jalal-Abad, Osh, and Batken oblasts. Year 2 activities built on the successes from Year 1 interventions, expanding successful pilot programs and introducing new activities. The project's program activities were categorized into two main areas: value chain activities and supporting activities. Value chain activities focused on improving productivity and markets for specific crops, including maize, potatoes, apricots, onions, and berries. Supporting activities included productivity and marketing activities, enabling environment activities, and nutrition activities. During Project Year 2, the project made significant progress in achieving its objectives. A total of 32,453 unique rural households benefited directly from training and technical assistance, exceeding the target by 353%. Additionally, 470 target value chain private enterprises, including food security private enterprises, producer organizations, and community-based organizations, were supported, exceeding the target by 1,198%. Furthermore, 34,908 unique individuals were trained in practical agricultural trainings and field consultations, covering various aspects of crop management, including cultivation, pruning, fertilization, and harvesting. The project also made progress in improving the enabling environment for agriculture sector growth. This included supporting the development of agricultural business service providers, rural advisory services, and pasture management committees. The project also worked to improve the nutritional status of women and children in the zone of influence, providing training and technical assistance to farmers on sustainable agricultural practices and promoting the use of nutritious crops. The project's value chain activities focused on improving productivity and markets for specific crops. For example, the project worked with farmers to improve maize productivity through the use of improved seeds and fertilizers. The project also supported the development of a potato value chain, including the establishment of a potato processing facility and the development of a marketing strategy. Similarly, the project worked with farmers to improve apricot productivity through the use of improved pruning and fertilization techniques. The project's supporting activities included productivity and marketing activities, enabling environment activities, and nutrition activities. Productivity and marketing activities focused on improving the productivity and market access of smallholder farmers. Enabling environment activities focused on improving the policy and regulatory environment for agriculture sector growth. Nutrition activities focused on improving the nutritional status of women and children in the zone of influence. Overall, the USAID Agro Horizon Project made significant progress in achieving its objectives during Project Year 2. The project's value chain activities and supporting activities contributed to improved productivity and market access for smallholder farmers, improved the enabling environment for agriculture sector growth, and improved the nutritional status of women and children in the zone of influence.