USAID Food and Enterprise Development Program for Liberia FY2016 Quarter One Report, October-December 2015

The program is implemented by Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) and focuses on five key components: increasing agricultural productivity and profitability, stimulating private sector growth and investment, building local technical and managerial human resource capability, cross-cutting activities, and management and operations. Component One: Increase Agricultural Productivity and Profitability focuses on improving the productivity and profitability of four key value chains: rice, cassava, horticulture, and goat. Task 1A aims to increase the productivity and profitability of the rice value chain through improved irrigation systems, crop management practices, and market access. Task 1B targets the cassava value chain, focusing on improved crop management practices, market access, and processing facilities. Task 1.C aims to improve the productivity and profitability of the horticulture value chain through improved crop management practices, market access, and post-harvest handling. Task 1D targets the goat value chain, focusing on improved breeding practices, market access, and processing facilities. Sub-task 1.1 involves the development of a data collection system to track agricultural productivity and profitability. Sub-task 1.2 aims to improve access to agricultural inputs, including seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. Sub-task 1.3 provides agricultural extension support to farmers, including training and technical assistance. Sub-task 1.4 focuses on promoting youth participation in agribusiness, while Sub-task 1.5 aims to improve human nutrition through improved crop management practices and market access. Component Two: Stimulate Private Sector Growth and Investment focuses on creating an enabling environment for private sector growth and investment. Task 2 aims to improve access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through the development of a credit guarantee scheme. Sub-task 2.2 targets women participation in agribusiness, providing training and technical assistance to women entrepreneurs. Sub-task 2.3 aims to promote public-private partnerships (PPPs) to benefit Feed the Future objectives. Component Three: Build Local Technical and Managerial Human Resource Capability focuses on building the capacity of local institutions and individuals to manage and implement agricultural projects. Component Four: Cross-Cutting Activities includes communications, knowledge management, environmental compliance, and monitoring and evaluation. Component Five: Management and Operations oversees the overall management and implementation of the program. During the first quarter of FY2016 (October-December 2015), the program achieved several milestones. The rice value chain saw a 20% increase in harvests, while the cassava value chain saw a 15% increase in sales. The horticulture value chain saw a 10% increase in sales, while the goat value chain saw a 5% increase in sales. The program also identified new farmer beneficiaries and provided training and technical assistance to over 1,000 farmers.