Between July 1-15 FED has intensified support to farmers as production season for FED’s crop-based value chains picks up across the six counties of operation; Bong, Lofa, Nimba, Grand Bassa, Margibi and Montserrado.
This reporting period saw a lot of activity in the promotion of the role of Liberia’s youth in FED activities. Various MoUs were signed and progressed between FED and Community Colleges, UNICEF and AYP.E Involving youth and building their capacity is something that is integral to the FED program.
Progress is being made towards developing input supply pilot voucher program; six co-operatives representing over 1000 farmers will be participating in the voucher program which aims to encourage use of inputs through partial subsidy.
On 4th July an MoU was signed with Ag-Input dealer Wienco, this new public-private-partnership will help to significantly increase FED beneficiaries access to ag-inputs As dealers are established close to FED-supported farming communities. Through this agreement, USAID’s FED is leveraging private sector resources as Weinco will be putting in up to $5200 worth of stocks consisting of fertilizers and pesticides on consignment to each of the 15 dealers.
Significant progress was made this reporting period towards forging long-lasting links between farmers, aggregators and large-scale food caterers in Liberia. Between July 1-15 meetings were also held with key stakeholders such as those involved with ArcelorMittal mining company and the chief caterer for UNMIL. These activities were carried out in collaboration with USAID’s Sustainable Marketplace Inititative-Liberia (SMI-L).
An Interactive Radio Training for 28 Liberian radio journalists (6 female, 28 male) from 14 county radio stations was completed on July 4, in Gbarnga, Bong County. This activity is designed to utilize radio as a medium for carrying out extension messaging in order to communicate recommended technologies and practices to the broadest section of farmers involved in FED’s value chains. As part of the training, the journalists developed six-month action plans for developing and producing radio programing with agriculture content. Fourteen MOUs have been signed with the radio stations for future collaboration and four of the radio stations have already aired programs as a result of the training. Fourteen MOUs have also been signed with the radio stations for future collaboration and four of the radio stations have already aired programs as a result of the training.