USAID Food and Enterprise Development Program for Liberia January 2016 Monthly Report

The program is implemented by Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) and is designed to run from 2015 to 2020. The program focuses on four main components: increasing agricultural productivity and profitability, stimulating private sector growth and investment, building local technical and managerial human resource capability, and cross-cutting activities. Component One aims to increase agricultural productivity and profitability through various tasks, including increasing productivity and profitability of the rice, cassava, horticulture, and goat value chains. Task 1A focuses on increasing productivity and profitability of the rice value chain, with a target of 20% increase in rice production. The task involves improving access to agricultural inputs, providing agricultural extension support, and promoting the use of improved rice varieties. Task 1B aims to increase productivity and profitability of the cassava value chain, with a target of 15% increase in cassava production. The task involves improving access to agricultural inputs, providing agricultural extension support, and promoting the use of improved cassava varieties. Component Two aims to stimulate private sector growth and investment through various tasks, including policy enabling environment for private sector growth. Task 2 focuses on creating an enabling environment for private sector growth, with a target of 20% increase in private sector investment in the agricultural sector. The task involves improving access to financing, providing business development support services, and promoting public-private partnerships. Component Three aims to build local technical and managerial human resource capability through various tasks, including training and capacity building for agricultural extension agents and farmers. Component Four focuses on cross-cutting activities, including communications, knowledge management, environmental compliance, and monitoring and evaluation. The program has made significant progress in its first year, with notable achievements in the rice and cassava value chains. The program has also established a strong partnership with the Government of Liberia, the private sector, and other stakeholders to achieve its objectives. In terms of specific achievements, the program has reported a 20% increase in rice production in the upland rice value chain, with a total of 12,000 metric tons of rice harvested in FY15. The program has also reported a 15% increase in cassava production in the cassava value chain, with a total of 10,000 metric tons of cassava harvested in FY14. The program has also established a total of 500 power tiller operators, who have tilled a total of 1,000 hectares of land in FY15. The program has also made significant progress in its cross-cutting activities, including the establishment of a strong monitoring and evaluation system, which has enabled the program to track its progress and make adjustments as needed. The program has also established a strong communications and knowledge management system, which has enabled the program to share its knowledge and best practices with stakeholders.