USAID Food and Enterprise Development Program for Liberia July 2015 Monthly Report

The program is implemented by Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) and is designed to run from 2011 to 2016. 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 youth in agribusiness. 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 youth in agribusiness. Task 1C focuses on increasing productivity and profitability of the horticulture value chain, with a target of 10% increase in horticulture production. The task involves improving access to agricultural inputs, providing agricultural extension support, and promoting youth in agribusiness. Task 1D aims to increase productivity and profitability of the goat value chain, with a target of 12% increase in goat production. The task involves improving access to agricultural inputs, providing agricultural extension support, and promoting youth in agribusiness. 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. The task involves improving access to financing, providing business development support services, and promoting women participation in agribusiness. Component Three aims to build local technical and managerial human resource capability through various tasks, including technical, vocational education and training (TVET). Component Four focuses on cross-cutting activities, including communications/knowledge management and environmental compliance. The program has made significant progress in the first four years of implementation. Key achievements include the construction of zero-energy coolers, charcoal coolers, and shelters in goat production intensification sites. The program has also trained lead farmers on good agricultural practices (GAP) and integrated pest management (IPM), and has provided veterinary treatment to animals through community animal health workers (CAHWS). The program has also made progress in stimulating private sector growth and investment. The program has established enterprise service centers and has provided business development support services to entrepreneurs. The program has also promoted women participation in agribusiness and has improved access to financing for small and medium enterprises. The program has also made progress in building local technical and managerial human resource capability. The program has established TVET centers and has provided training to farmers and entrepreneurs on various skills, including agricultural extension, business management, and marketing. Overall, the FED Program for Liberia has made significant progress in improving agricultural productivity and profitability, stimulating private sector growth and investment, and building local technical and managerial human resource capability. The program has achieved its targets in various areas, including rice, cassava, horticulture, and goat production, and has improved access to agricultural inputs, agricultural extension support, and business development support services.