Food and Enterprise Development (FED) Activity Highlights for August 1-15, 2014:
- The Doumpah-based rice business hub, operated by the God to Man farming group in Nimba County, sold 10 50-kg bags of milled rice to the surrounding communities. The rice came from the group’s FED-supported farm. The availability of rice processing services has helped the community increase reliance on local food sources.
- Vegetable farmers from the United Farmers Association (UFA) received a second loan of $500,000 LD through the facilitation of FED from local micro finance institution, Liberian Entrepreneurial and Asset Development (LEAD). UFA is expected to repay the loan in 6 months
- USAID FED conducted germination tests on new hybrid vegetable varieties intended for the FY15 project beneficiaries. The seeds with minimum of 85% germination rate are under trial at the Mawah cluster in Mount Barclay to ascertain among other things, pest and disease resistance and yield potential. Vegetable seeds include chili, okra, watermelon, cabbage, lettuce and bitterball.
- USAID FED submitted a recording for the pilot program, “On the Farm” to UNMIL radio. This program is a 30 minute radio show focusing on agriculture and will air twice a month. The first program, which will be aired later in the month, discusses improved technologies for lowland rice, the National Diploma in Agriculture, and vegetable storage issues at Red Light market.
- USAID FED signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nimba County Community College (NCCC). Under the agreement, USAID FED will provide agricultural inputs and technical support to NCCC’s farm development program. The MOU holds NCCC accountable to managing the farming enterprises, including provision of personnel.
- USAID FED-supported Community Animal Health Workers (CAHW) tagged the ears of 24 does in Grand Bassa County. This is for the purpose of tracking the performance of each doe and selection of good breeders.
- USAID FED completed 40 goat shelters across the four counties (Nimba 30; Bong 6; Lofa 3; and Grand Bassa 1).
- A total of 137 kids (67 male, 70 female) were born to herds of USAID FED-supported goat farmers in 16 communities in Bong and Grand Bassa counties. In Bong, 123 kids were born to FED goat farmer-beneficiaries in 13 communities, while 14 kids were born in 3 communities of Grand Bassa County.
- In Bong a total of $ 8,560 USD was generated from the sale of 107 goats (63 male, 44 female), while a total of $ 305 USD was generated in Grand Bassa from the sale of 5 goats (3 male, 2 female).