Food and Enterprise Development (FED) Activity Highlights for November 1st-15th, 2014
- USAID FED supported rice processor, FABAR Rice Liberia, identified 3 aggregators in Lofa County to purchase paddy rice from USAID FED supported rice farmers. USAID FED established aggregation points in Foya, Voinjama and Kolahun Districts in Lofa County to facilitate the exercise.
- USAID FED documented rice harvests which benefitted from UDP technology application in Lofa County. USAID FED captured footage of the Kobake Farmers Association, Agriculture Infrastructures Investment Corporation, Rice and Food Crops Farmer Union, Mayor Farmer Association and Bayer Farmer Association groups harvesting rice from UDP technology applied fields (Figure 1). The video footage is the final collection of material for a video documentary on UDP technology. USAID FED already has footage on the application and growth of rice on UDP applied fields.
- USAID FED identified and recruited 400 youth (271 male, 169 female) to participate in the FY15 agri-business pilots. Each of these youth is expected to cultivate a minimum of 0.2 ha under vegetable production.
- USAID FED procured carpentry tool kits for the 16 carpentry apprentices in Bong, Nimba, Lofa and Grand Bassa counties. USAID FED will present the assorted tools comprising hard hats, safety googles, working gloves, note pad, pencils, black pens, tool box, tape measures, hammers, putty knives and tool bags and other materials to the apprentices on November 25, 2014. The youth are expected to use the tools to provide goat shelter and feeder construction services in their communities after a 4 month apprenticeship with a master carpenter.
- USAID FED conducted an Essential Nutrition Actions Training of Trainers (ToT) for 25 (2 male, 23 female) Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) Chairladies and Community Field Officers (CFOs) in Voinjama, Lofa County. Participants received direct nutritional messages and learned about diet diversification and the importance of proper nutrition for pregnant women and children.
- USAID FED supported group Zoedoar Women’s VSLA group in Nimba County received the National Association of Village Savings and Loan Association (NAPEX) certificate. NAPEX is intended to enhance the delivery of information among member VSLAs in a coordinated fashion, provide the opportunity for feedback on the implementation of activities, and help the Central Bank improve risk management by assisting in loan origination due diligence and the repayment process. All VSLAs wishing to apply for loans through Liberia Entrepreneurial & Asset Development (LEAD) will be required to register with NAPEX.
- The MoA has given its approval for the mass reproduction and distribution of the nutrition poster that USAID FED designed. The poster aims at changing consumption pattern by showing the negative impact to health of the traditional diet that is overly dominated by starch-based food, and showcasing the positive impact of a balanced diet that contains more meat, fish, vegetables and fruits. FED will be producing 2000 copies of this poster.