Document Type: Progress Reports

The USAID Food and Enterprise Development (FED) Program for Liberia is a USAID-funded development program that was launched in September 2011. USAID FED uses an all-inclusive strategy incorporating micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) farmers, processors, suppliers, women, and youth while partnering with the government of Liberia and local civil societies to achieve food security.

The goal of USAID FED is to increase food availability, utilization, and accessibility by building an indigenous incentive structure that assists agricultural stakeholders in adopting commercial approaches.

This incentive structure is built upon:

• Improved technology for productivity and profitability
• Expanded and modernized input supply and extension systems
• Commercial production, marketing, and processing
• Enterprise services
• Workforce development

USAID FED works with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), Ministry of Finance (MoF), civil societies and the private sector in providing communities access to agricultural inputs — including improved seed varieties — extension services, nutrition messages, processing services, market information, transportation, credit, agro-business education, training, and enterprise services.

In five years, USAID FED’s thrust to expand market linkages is expected to lead to substantial increases in income and job opportunities. USAID FED aims to significantly boost the production, processing, marketing and nutritional utilization of rice, cassava and vegetables, and to enhance the productivity of goat farming in the counties covered by the program.

These initiatives are being carried out in Bong, Lofa, Nimba, Grand Bassa, Montserrado, and Margibi counties. USAID FED focuses on these counties because they are situated along regional development corridors that are crucial in promoting intra and inter-county commerce. These growth corridors are expected to improve food availability and access for all Liberians.

USAID FED’s methodology is market-led and value chain-driven; it is committed to developing indigenous capacity building, with a specific focus on Liberia’s women and youth.

USAID FED is implemented by five partners: Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI), Winrock International, International Fertilizer Developmental Center (IFDC), Louisiana State University (LSU) and The Cadmus Group.

Executive Summary

FY 14 has seen FED successfully ramp up programming in spite of several challenges such as the Ebola outbreak that happened in the last quarter of the fiscal year.

In FY14, FED implemented programming in 876 villages (more than three times the number of villages in FY13) in 38 districts in the counties of Bong, Nimba, Lofa, Grand Bassa, Margibi and Montserrado. The introduction of the cluster approach to programming led to a more efficient operation of the FED County Offices as well as its partner local NGOs (LNGOs).

The cluster approach focuses value chain programming in geographic areas where there is a concentration of farmers working in that specific value chain. This approach has allowed the program to significantly exceed several of its targets as shown in the Indicator Progress Report (IPR) table. (See Attachment A).

Among the most notable accomplishments of USAID FED in FY14 are as follows:

• Implementation of improved technology in 6,525 hectares, which is 13 percent higher than target.
• Provision of direct program assistance to 1,637 private enterprises, producers’ organizations, women’s groups, trade and business associations and community-based organizations, which is 137 percent more than the target for the fiscal year.
• Direct assistance to a total of 40,779 (114 percent of target and more than twice the outreach of FY13) individuals coming from 36,723 households.
• Generation of 2,177 jobs or full-time employment (FTEs), which is 21 times higher than target and 24 times higher than what was generated in FY13.
• Sales at the farmers’ level have reached US$1,077,100, which is more than three times the sales of FY13.

FED leveraged private sector resources in expanding production, improving productivity, and increasing processing and storage capacity. More than US$1.4 million were generated from the private sector as investment in different segments of the value chain, resulting in increases in processing capacity and storage capacity. By the end of FY14, additional processing capacity reached 16,400 metric tons, while storage capacity rose by 2,054 cubic meters.

It is very important that these increases in processing and storage capacities were achieved in FY14 in sync with surplus production by FED-supported farmers. In FY14, FED-supported rice farmers sold more than 1,220 MT of rice from the FY13 production worth US$565,000. FY14-supported rice farmers are expected to harvest over 10,000 MT of rice from more than 3,800 hectares cultivated in FY14. It is expected that approximately 50 percent of this produce will be sold to processors.

Among the achievements under Component One was the establishment of 10 rice business hubs in strategic locations. Eight of these hubs were fully functional at the end of FY14. All 10 are expected to be functional by Q1 of FY15 and will provide processing (threshing and milling) and storage services to rice farmers in time for the harvest in Q1 of FY15. They will be providing power-tilling services during the rice production season in FY15. Other accomplishments under Component One are detailed under each task and sub-task.

Under FED’s Component 2, significant milestones have been achieved in the area of Business Enabling Environment (BEE) in FY14 with the ratification and promulgation of four policies: EO#64 and the seeds, fertilizer and pesticide regulations. EO#64 waives import duties on agricultural inputs including machineries, equipment and agro-chemicals. This duty waiver is designed to encourage more private sector investment in agriculture. The seeds, fertilizer and pesticides regulations will ensure quality of these inputs. Quality assurance is expected to result in increased productivity and profitability, which will encourage farmers to invest in these agro-inputs.

One of the major challenges faced by the program is beneficiary readiness for formal financing, since the beneficiaries are largely informal micro-enterprises with no business history. They are, therefore, deemed high-risk and non-bankable. No banks are willing to lend to them. To address this constraint, FED focused on mobilizing informal financing using Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) as a platform. FED was able to organize 123 predominately women VSLAs. FED also partnered with a micro-finance institution, the Liberia Entrepreneurial and Asset Development (LEAD), and was able to generate US$276,300 in financing for the agricultural activities of FED beneficiaries. In FY15, FED will scale up support to VSLAs and to LEAD, as well as focus on finding private sector value chain players who are willing to offer embedded financing.

Under Component 3, a major accomplishment is the approval by the Ministry of Education of the National Diploma in Agriculture (NDA) curriculum that FED helped to develop. The NDA is a two-year vocational diploma program that partner vocational institutions agreed to adopt. In preparation for the implementation of the NDA, FED supported the development of the syllabi and lesson plans of the courses to be rolled out in Year One.

Still under Component 3, FED planned to establish five Enterprise Service Centers (ESCs) that will provide access to Business Development Support (BDS) services to MSMEs in agriculture. A major challenge that FED faced in this effort was finding organizations or businesses in the counties that have the capacity to deliver BDS services. In general, local organizations in Liberia are in need of capacity-development support to run their businesses in a profitable manner. It is therefore difficult to expect them to have the knowledge and skills to help MSMEs in agriculture in improving their businesses. FED selected three candidate organizations to support as Enterprise Service Centers. They have been provided with extensive training and coaching on various facets of business development services. However, after all the training and coaching, an evaluation of their capacity still shows that investing in hard assets to support them to become ESCs may not be the best use of USAID’s investment.

To address the issue regarding the absence of the ESCs, the program leveraged the VSLA initiative to provide BDS services to 2,193 (213 percent of target) micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) including farmers. These BDS services primarily involved training and coaching on basic business practices such as record-keeping, savings, knowing market requirements, relationship between costs and sales, pricing, and planning of production.

In FY15, instead of focusing on establishing ESCs, FED will focus on developing providers who can provide BDS services including registration of micro and small enterprises that FED is working with. Further, since access to BDS services is a subtask under Component Two, ESC establishment will be combined with this task and will be transferred to Component Two.

The USAID Food and Enterprise Development (FED) Program for Liberia is a USAID-funded development program that was launched in September 2011. USAID FED uses an all-inclusive strategy incorporating MSME farmers, processors, suppliers, women, and youth while partnering with the government of Liberia and local civil society to achieve food security.

The goal of USAID FED is to increase food availability, utilization, and accessibility by building an indigenous incentive structure that assists agricultural stakeholders in adopting commercial approaches.

This incentive structure is built upon:

• Improved technology for productivity and profitability
• Expanded and modernized input supply and extension systems
• Commercial production, marketing, and processing
• Enterprise services
• Workforce development

USAID FED works with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), civil society and the private sector in providing communities access to agricultural inputs, extension services, nutrition messages, processing services, market information, transportation, credit, agro-business education, training, and business development services.

In five years, USAID FED’s thrust to expand market linkages is expected to lead to substantial increases in income and job opportunities. USAID FED aims to significantly boost the production, processing, marketing and nutritional utilization of rice, cassava and vegetables, and to enhance the productivity of goat farming in the counties covered by the program.

These initiatives are being carried out in Bong, Lofa, Nimba, Grand Bassa, Montserrado, and Margibi counties. USAID FED focuses on these counties because they are situated along regional development corridors that are crucial in promoting intra and inter-county commerce. These growth corridors are expected to improve food availability and access for all Liberians.

USAID FED’s methodology is market-led and value chain-driven; it is committed to developing indigenous capacity building, with a specific focus on Liberia’s women and youth.

USAID FED is implemented by five partners: Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI), Winrock International, International Fertilizer Developmental Center (IFDC), Louisiana State University (LSU), and The Cadmus Group.

Executive Summary

Five USAID FED supported VSLA groups created the first Village Savings Groups Credit Union in Nimba County. Zoedoar Women VSLA, Karnplay Women VSLA, Dioplay VSLA, Garplay VSLA and Lapea # 1 VSLA contributed a total of US$ 500,000 towards the establishment of the Zoedoar Women Village Saving Groups Credit Union.

USAID-supported industrial rice processor, FABRAR Liberia, commenced rice procurement from USAID FED farmers in Bong, Nimba, and Lofa counties. In October, FABRAR Liberia secured a contract to supply 90 MT of rice to the World Food Programme (WFP). FABRAR supplied 90.55 MT of milled rice to WFP valued at US$63,385 in November. It is anticipated that FABRAR will procure an additional 148 MT of paddy rice valued at US$50,320 from USAID FED-supported rice farmers during the month of December.

USAID FED facilitated the third inspection by Center of Agriculture Research Institute (CARI) technicians of the two screening sites with improved cassava varieties imported from the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in FY14 in Lofa County. During the inspections, varieties were inspected for adaptability, sprouted cuttings and reactions of genotypes to Cassava Mosaic Disease. USAID FED maintained 2 supervisors, 2 technicians and 30 laborers to provide day-to-day management and maintenance support to these sites.

USAID FED contracted input supply dealer, Gro-Green, resumed the establishment of greenhouses in the FY14 vegetable clusters. By the end of November, Gro-Green had installed 4 greenhouses in Mawah, Chosen General Church Women and Youth Empowerment Project (CGCWYEP), Mulleh and White Plane clusters. USAID FED is expected to construct a total of 20 protected cultivation sites across the 4 counties in the FY14 implementation sites.

USAID FED, in collaboration with international development organization BRAC and the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), planned to conduct a Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) vaccination campaign in October 2014. However, due to the Ebola outbreak, BRAC and MoA deferred the activity to FY15. Meetings were held with the BRAC Country Representative to plan for the implementation of the PPR vaccination campaign in Q2 (March to April). USAID FED and BRAC are awaiting a response from MoA in December regarding the Ministry’s commitment to purchase the required vaccines. It is expected that at least 150,000 animals will be vaccinated nationwide.

USAID FED developed a nutrition poster in collaboration with MoA. The poster is intended for use in disseminating nutrition messages, and was tested during a one day Essential Nutrition Actions (ENA) Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop by VSLA chairladies and Community Field Officers (CFOs) in Lofa County. During the workshop, a total of 25 participants (2 male, 23 female) received nutritional messages and learned about diet diversification and the importance of proper nutrition for pregnant women and children. In addition, participants learned about the importance of disseminating accurate messages to members of their groups and respective communities.

The USAID Food and Enterprise Development (FED) Program for Liberia is a USAID-funded development program that was launched in September 2011. USAID FED uses an all-inclusive strategy incorporating MSME farmers, processors, suppliers, women, and youth while partnering with the government of Liberia and local civil societies to achieve food security.

The goal of USAID FED is to increase food availability, utilization, and accessibility by building an indigenous incentive structure that assists agricultural stakeholders in adopting commercial approaches.

This incentive structure is built upon:

• Improved technology for productivity and profitability
• Expanded and modernized input supply and extension systems
• Commercial production, marketing, and processing
• Enterprise services
• Workforce development

USAID FED works with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), civil societies and the private sector in providing communities access to agricultural inputs, extension services, nutrition messages, processing services, market information, transportation, credit, agro-business education, training, and business development services.

In five years, USAID FED’s thrust to expand market linkages is expected to lead to substantial increases in income and job opportunities. USAID FED aims to significantly boost the production, processing, marketing and nutritional utilization of rice, cassava and vegetables, and to enhance the productivity of goat farming in the counties covered by the program.

These initiatives are being carried out in Bong, Lofa, Nimba, Grand Bassa, Montserrado, and Margibi counties. USAID FED focuses on these counties because they are situated along regional development corridors that are crucial in promoting intra and inter-county commerce. These growth corridors are expected to improve food availability and access for all Liberians.

USAID FED’s methodology is market-led and value chain-driven; it is committed to developing indigenous capacity building, with a specific focus on Liberia’s women and youth.

USAID FED is implemented by five partners: Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI), Winrock International, International Fertilizer Developmental Center (IFDC), Louisiana State University (LSU), and The Cadmus Group.

Executive Summary

During the reporting period, USAID FED supported lowland rice farmers and surpassed targets for land preparation, covering over 1,426 ha of lowland rice fields. Rice transplanting on all sites is expected to be completed by next month.

All 50 UDP three-treatment trial sites, covering 150 ha of land, were planted in July as well. In addition, rice seedling transplanting is ongoing at 89 UDP-only sites. The transplanting is expected to be completed in August.

By the end of July, the construction on three rice business hubs in Lofa County (David Selma Town, Foya and Serkonnedu) and one rice business hub in Grand Bassa County (Kpelleh Town) was completed. Including the three rice business hubs inaugurated in Nimba County in Q3, the project has completed construction of buildings to house seven rice business hubs in Bong, Grand Bassa and Lofa Counties. Except for the 3 business hubs in Lofa, the rest are already equipped with rice mills and are now functional.

USAID FED has completed the construction of eight rice business hubs in Lofa (3), Bong (1), Nimba (3) and Grand Bassa (1). Three business hubs inaugurated in Nimba County in Q3 are equipped with rice mills and functional, while equipment installation in Bong, Grand Bassa and Lofa counties will be done in August.

In July, Fabrar Liberia’s processing facilities were completed, and a new rice milling line was delivered to the facility. Fabrar Liberia now has two operational rice milling lines. In addition, Fabrar Liberia hired and trained 12 machine operators to work the milling lines. The inauguration of the facility was originally scheduled to take place on August 29, 2014, but has been postponed to September 30, 2014, due to the Ebola outbreak.

USAID FED facilitated meetings between four medium-sized processors in Montserrado County—FALIMA Inc., Liberia Business Incubator, RASA Liberia, Yaehe Agricultural Processors—and cassava clusters in the four counties. The meetings informed the farmers of the processors’ requirements in terms of volume, varieties and timing. They also served as platform for negotiating prices. USAID FED expects the four processors to commence cassava purchasing in August 2014.

In July, USAID FED selected 30 bucks from the first batch of 209 goats imported by the partner Land O’Lakes. The goats were distributed to goat production sites in Nimba County. This will introduce new genetic material to the village herds, reduce in-breeding and is expected to improve production performance of the herds.

USAID FED partner Gro Green began the installation of greenhouses at vegetable cluster sites in Montserrado County starting with the Mawah cluster. The rain shelters will allow farmers to grow high value vegetables during the rainy season.

In July, USAID FED and fourteen instructors from the four Centers of Excellence developed the second semester lesson plans and NDA program syllabi. CoE administrations also decided on transition plans to incorporate the NDA in the CoE academic programs.

The USAID Food and Enterprise Development (FED) Program for Liberia is a USAID-funded development program that was launched in September 2011. USAID FED uses an all-inclusive strategy incorporating MSME farmers, processors, suppliers, women and youth while partnering with the government of Liberia and local civil societies to achieve food security.

The goal of USAID FED is to increase food availability, utilization, and accessibility by building an indigenous incentive structure that assists agricultural stakeholders in adopting commercial approaches.

This incentive structure is built upon:

• Improved technology for productivity and profitability
• Expanded and modernized input supply and extension systems
• Commercial production, marketing, and processing
• Enterprise services
• Workforce development

USAID FED works with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), civil societies and the private sector in providing communities access to agricultural inputs—including improved seed varieties—extension services, nutrition messages, processing services, market information, transportation, credit, agrobusiness education, training, and enterprise services.

In five years, USAID FED’s thrust to expand market linkages is expected to lead to substantial increases in income and job opportunities. USAID FED aims to significantly boost the production, processing, marketing and nutritional utilization of rice, cassava and vegetables, and to enhance the productivity of goat farming in the counties covered by the program.

These initiatives are being carried out in Bong, Lofa, Nimba, Grand Bassa, Montserrado, and Margibi counties. USAID FED focuses on these counties because they are situated along regional development corridors that are crucial in promoting intra and inter-county commerce. These growth corridors are expected to improve food availability and access for all Liberians.

USAID FED’s methodology is market-led and value chain-driven; it is committed to developing indigenous capacity building, with a specific focus on Liberia’s women and youth.

USAID FED is implemented by five partners: Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI), Winrock International, International Fertilizer Developmental Center (IFDC), Louisiana State University (LSU), and The Cadmus Group.

Executive Summary

During the reporting period, USAID FED in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) formally inaugurated and officially turned over three community-based Rice Business Hubs in Nimba County (Doumpa, Payee and Boweh) to beneficiaries.

The Rice Business Hubs, which are intended to support the community’s ability to process and store their rice, are equipped with a mill, destoner, thresher, parboiling machine, water source and latrines. The hubs, which are managed by the farmers themselves, will give other rice farmers in these communities access to a fee-based milling service.

USAID FED verified rice surplus available in Lofa County and provided this information to Fabrar Liberia, a large rice mill operator. FED facilitated the negotiation between Fabrar and the farmers by providing information on costs and the markets, helping the processor and the farmers to agree on US$19 price per 50kg bag. Fabrar Liberia made a 25% down payment of $5,785.50 USD for 1,200 bags of paddy rice, or 60.9 MT. The balance of $17,356.50 USD will be paid out in June upon collection of the paddy rice.

Fabrar made it clear to rice farmers that they were willing to purchase up to 40,000 bags of paddy rice, and as a result, Foya-based farmers reported another 1,500 bags of paddy rice in their inventories.

USAID FED supported a goat trading event in Nimba County to pilot a marketing platform that aims to provide a formal and regular venue for traders and goat farmers to carry out buying and selling transactions. A total of 13 lead farmers from goat producing clusters in Nimba County and six goat traders participated in the event where 20 goats were sold for $965 USD.

Both traders and goat farmers responded positively to the event which indicates that this platform has strong potential. Valuable lessons have been learned that will be considered in the subsequent goat trading events. A major finding is the need to better understand: 1) the specifications/standards for pricing of goats and volumes needed and 2) the trading and payment structure and practices in the goat/livestock trade in Liberia.

ROSNA, which provides catering for Arcelor Mittal, signed a new purchasing contract with 2014 Yekepa farmers who have reported $2,500 USD in revenues as a result of their business dealings with ROSNA.

USAID FED organized a one-day round table event to discuss the role of radio in agriculture extension. During the event, USAID FED signed MoUs with four community radio stations from Lofa, Bong, Grand Bassa and Nimba counties towards the production and airing of 30-minute agriculture-focused radio shows. County radio stations, lead farmers the Press Union of Liberia, MoA and other agri-business stakeholders participated in the event. USAID FED is providing four computers, digital voice recorders, rain gear, monthly telephone scratch cards and internet modems to enhance program delivery by these stations.

The USAID Food and Enterprise Development (FED) Program for Liberia is a USAID-funded development program that was launched in September 2011. USAID FED uses an all-inclusive strategy incorporating MSME farmers, processors, suppliers, women, and youth while partnering with the government of Liberia and local civil societies to achieve food security.

The goal of USAID FED is to increase food availability, utilization, and accessibility by building an indigenous incentive structure that assists agricultural stakeholders in adopting commercial approaches.

This incentive structure is built upon:

• Improved technology for productivity and profitability
• Expanded and modernized input supply and extension systems
• Commercial production, marketing, and processing
• Enterprise services
• Workforce development

USAID FED works with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), civil societies and the private sector in providing communities access to agricultural inputs, extension services, nutrition messages, processing services, market information, transportation, credit, agro-business education, training, and business development services.

In five years, USAID FED’s thrust to expand market linkages is expected to lead to substantial increases in income and job opportunities. USAID FED aims to significantly boost the production, processing, marketing and nutritional utilization of rice, cassava and vegetables, and to enhance the productivity of goat farming in the counties covered by the program.

These initiatives are being carried out in Bong, Lofa, Nimba, Grand Bassa, Montserrado, and Margibi counties. USAID FED focuses on these counties because they are situated along regional development corridors that are crucial in promoting intra and inter-county commerce. These growth corridors are expected to improve food availability and access for all Liberians.

USAID FED’s methodology is market-led and value chain-driven; it is committed to developing indigenous capacity building, with a specific focus on Liberia’s women and youth.

USAID FED is implemented by five partners: Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI), Winrock International, International Fertilizer Developmental Center (IFDC), Louisiana State University (LSU), and The Cadmus Group.

Executive Summary

During the period, USAID FED signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with Lofa County Community College (LCCC), Nimba County Community College (NCCC) and Grand Bassa Community College (GBCC). According to the MoUs, USAID FED will support the CoEs to establish enterprises that will generate additional revenues to be used for the up-keep of the facilities and equipment that the program will put in place. The enterprises will also serve as avenues for practical on-farm exercises for students enrolled under the NDA program.

USAID FED delivered the second rice mill line to Fabrar Liberia’s processing facility in Kakata. Fabrar Liberia installed two rice mill lines and started processing paddy rice in stock. The inauguration of the facility was expected to take place during the month of August, but was postponed due to the current Ebola crisis.

During the month of August, 2,000 bags of surplus rice valued at $38,000 USD were verified in Lofa County for sale to Fabrar Liberia. In addition, 750 bags of surplus rice valued at $13,500 USD were verified in Nimba County. It is anticipated that Fabrar Liberia will procure the surplus rice during the month of September, as the need for locally produced rice increases due to shortages emerging as a result of the Ebola crisis.

USAID FED conducted a vegetable market assessment exercise in Grand Bassa County to identify and map out additional markets for the sales of vegetables in FY15 .The assessment revealed seven potential markets along the Montserrado and Grand Bassa corridor that are trading predominately in cucumber, eggplant and okra. USAID FED vegetable clusters can consider these markets for future sales of vegetables.

In the reporting period, USAID FED began vegetable seed trials on lettuce, hot pepper, African eggplant, bitter ball and tomatoes at Mawah Cluster in Montserrado County. The seeds were sown in a nursery in August and will be transplanted to the fields in September. The trials will assist the vegetable value chain make conclusions on each vegetable’s performance.

USAID FED also produced a video on nutrition titled “Healthy Foods for Pregnant Women and Children” which will serve as a visual reinforcement of the importance of diversified nutrition during nutrition training and other presentations.

USAID FED Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) and extension aides ear tagged a total of 83 goats at seven FY13 goat production sites, and 14 goats at one FY14 goat production site in Grand Bassa County (Figure 7). The ear tagging process continues in the remaining counties in September.

Ear tagging of goats is a useful tool to identify and record performance of goats under improved management practices.

By the end of August, 2,398.82 ha of upland rice were planted at the 224 FED sites. All counties exceeded targets for area cultivation of upland rice. The farmers will spend September weeding and caring for their respective rice fields. Some of the farms that planted rice crop much earlier are now experiencing panicle initiation.

USAID FED completed the evaluation of 15 micro and small processors regarding their equipment requirements. USAID FED also conducted a total of 16 micro and small processors building inspections.

During FY15, 27 county-based micro-processors and three Monrovia-based small processors will be assisted to upgrade processing capacities and enable them to operate profitably.

The USAID Food and Enterprise Development (FED) Program for Liberia is a USAID-funded development program that was launched in September 2011. USAID FED uses an all-inclusive strategy incorporating MSME farmers, processors, suppliers, women and youth while partnering with the government of Liberia and local civil societies to achieve food security.

The goal of USAID FED is to increase food availability, utilization, and accessibility by building an indigenous incentive structure that assists agricultural stakeholders in adopting commercial approaches.

This incentive structure is built upon:

• Improved technology for productivity and profitability
• Expanded and modernized input supply and extension systems
• Commercial production, marketing, and processing
• Enterprise services
• Workforce development

USAID FED works with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), civil societies and the private sector in providing communities access to agricultural inputs—including improved seed varieties—extension services, nutrition messages, processing services, market information, transportation, credit, agrobusiness education, training, and enterprise services.

In five years, USAID FED’s thrust to expand market linkages is expected to lead to substantial increases in income and job opportunities. USAID FED aims to significantly boost the production, processing, marketing and nutritional utilization of rice, cassava and vegetables, and to enhance the productivity of goat farming in the counties covered by the program.

These initiatives are being carried out in Bong, Lofa, Nimba, Grand Bassa, Montserrado, and Margibi counties. USAID FED focuses on these counties because they are situated along regional development corridors that are crucial in promoting intra and inter-county commerce. These growth corridors are expected to improve food availability and access for all Liberians.

USAID FED’s methodology is market-led and value chain-driven; it is committed to developing indigenous capacity building, with a specific focus on Liberia’s women and youth.

USAID FED is implemented by five partners: Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI), Winrock International, International Fertilizer Developmental Center (IFDC), Louisiana State University (LSU), and The Cadmus Group.

Executive Summary

During the reporting period USAID FED supported the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) to hold the National M/SME Conference 2014, April 29 and 30 at Monrovia’s City Hall. This year’s conference put a spotlight on agri-business and youth, and USAID FED supported the event by providing human resource, logistical and technical support. USAID FED showcased its activities in the trade fair and produced a rice video documentary which was aired at the conference during the USAID FED sponsored policy forum as well as at the awards dinner.

The President of Liberia signed Executive Order #64, suspending import tariffs on “essential equipment, agricultural seeds, live animals for breeding, and other goods directly related to agricultural development” on April 25, 2014. USAID FED began to lobby for this in November 2013 and put together the list of agro-inputs and corresponding HS codes for MoCI to use to lobby for the measure. The LABEE IPG (Liberia Agriculture Business Enabling Environment Inter-agency Policy Group), an executive level policy group that will focus on improving the BEE for agriculture that was conceptualized by FED, was launched at the MSME Conference.

USAID FED surveyed farmers in Lofa County to ascertain the quantities of surplus rice available, and facilitated an agreement on rice prices for the potential sale to FABRAR Rice Liberia. Farmers accepted FABRAR’s offer of $19 USD per 50kg bag of paddy rice. FABRAR will provide a 25% up front deposit and begin transporting the rice from Lofa to Kakata in May.

CARI received the first batch of improved cassava cuttings from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). USAID FED is supporting CARI in importing 11 improved varieties. The first batch received from the IITA consists of 24,000 cuttings of six improved varieties. The cuttings were planted in control sites for monitoring of adaptability to local climate, pests and diseases. An additional 20,000 cuttings are expected from IITA in May.

USAID FED and CARI inaugurated the CARI Livestock Quarantine Facility in Suakoko, Bong County. US Ambassador to Liberia, Ms. Deborah Malac, cut the ribbon at the inauguration attended by Deputy Minister of Agriculture Ms. Seklau Wiles, the Head of Livestock Research at CARI, Dr. Arthur Karnuah, Land O Lakes Acting Chief of Party, Ms. Allison Williams and USAID FED staff. Land O Lakes is expected to import the first 100 goats that will form part of the nucleus breeding herd for CARI by end of June 2014.

The Food and Enterprise Development (FED) Program for Liberia is a USAID-funded development program that was launched in September 2011. USAID FED uses an all-inclusive strategy incorporating MSME farmers, processors, suppliers, women and youth while partnering with the government of Liberia and local civil societies to achieve food security.

The goal of USAID FED is to increase food availability, utilization, and accessibility by building an indigenous incentive structure that assists agricultural stakeholders in adopting commercial approaches.

This incentive structure will be built upon:

• Improved technology for productivity and profitability
• Expanded and modernized input supply and extension systems
• Commercial production, marketing, and processing
• Enterprise services
• Workforce development

FED works with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), civil societies and the private sector in providing communities access to agricultural inputs (including improved seeds), extension services, nutritious food products, processing services, market information, transportation, credit, agro-business education, training, and enterprise services.

In five years, FED’s thrust to expand market linkages is expected to lead to substantial increases in income and job opportunities. FED aims to significantly boost the production, processing, marketing and nutritional utilization of rice, cassava and vegetables, and to enhance the productivity of goat farming in the counties covered by the program.

These initiatives are being carried out in the counties of Bong, Lofa, Nimba, Grand Bassa, Montserrado, and Margibi. FED focused on these counties because they are situated along regional development corridors that are crucial in promoting intra and inter-county commerce. These growth corridors are expected to improve food availability and access for all Liberians.

FED’s methodology is market-led and value chain-driven; it is committed to develop indigenous capacity building, with specific focus on Liberia’s women and youth.

FED’s approach is collaborative and catalytic. It is driven by the goals and objectives of our partner clients. It aims to increase incomes of rural households and create new employment and livelihood opportunities for Liberians; to improve access to food and household dietary diversity scores of food-insecure Liberians; and to promote the use of improved inputs, better farming practices, and technologies that boost agricultural productivity.

FED is implemented by five partners, namely: Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI), Winrock International, International Fertilizer Developmental Center (IFDC), Louisiana State University (LSU), and The Cadmus Group.

Executive Summary

FED has nearly completed the construction and outfitting of the three rice mill facilities in Boweh, Dounpa and Payee, Nimba county. The rice processing centers have been roofed, and the warehouse, milling room and a mini-store for processed rice are complete. Each site has a drying floor and a latrine. The processing centers are expected to be functional by the end of March. The three rice processing centers in Bong Mines, Totota and Garmue, Bong county are approximately three weeks from being completed.

FED initiated the first market linkages meeting between FABRAR and the Fuamah Multipurpose Cooperative Society in Bong Mines, one of FED’s largest rice production areas. Over 30 farmers participated in the event to discuss key issues of pricing and the short and long term benefits associated with selling to FABRAR. In the meeting, FABRAR offered $18.00 USD per 50kg of paddy rice after taking into consideration the associated costs of transport. The farmers countered with US$20 per 50kg of paddy rice. Negotiations continue and the two parties expect to establish a contractual agreement based on a mutually agreed price in March 2014.

FED goat farmers from 32 communities sold 94 goats in the month of February worth a total of $4,895 USD. Nimba county goat farmers led the way with $2,945 USD, followed by Lofa with $1,455 and Grand Bassa with $495.

In Nimba county, FED facilitated the first Trader Support event with vegetable lead farmers, traders and local catering firms from Nimba and neighboring Grand Bassa county. At the end of the event the lead farmers and Liberian catering firm ROSNA agreed to enter into a purchase contract to formalize their relationships.

FED registered 300 of 354 FED vegetable farmers for the voucher program in Montserrado, Margibi, Nimba and Grand Bassa counties. In the registration, FED distributed vouchers as well as instructional material about the voucher program. FED will finish registration in March. Redemption of vouchers will commence in mid-March, and vegetable farmers have approximately three weeks to redeem their vouchers.

FED prepared two Global Development Alliance (GDA) concept notes to present in March to Chevron to expand FED’s program to commercialize high value vegetables and to the Coca Cola Company to double FED’s reach to women farmers through the Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) program.

The Grand Bassa Community College successfully acquired 30 acres from the community on which to locate the future demonstration farms and the rice mill and cassava processing operations towards creating a Center of Excellence for Agriculture. The location is accessible for students as well as the community.

The Food and Enterprise Development (FED) Program for Liberia is a USAID-funded development program that was launched in September 2011. USAID FED uses an all-inclusive strategy incorporating MSME farmers, processors, suppliers, women and youth while partnering with the government of Liberia and local civil societies to achieve food security.

The goal of USAID FED is to increase food availability, utilization, and accessibility by building an indigenous incentive structure that assists agricultural stakeholders in adopting commercial approaches.

This incentive structure will be built upon:

• Improved technology for productivity and profitability
• Expanded and modernized input supply and extension systems
• Commercial production, marketing, and processing
• Enterprise services
• Workforce development

FED works with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), civil societies and the private sector in providing communities access to agricultural inputs (including improved seeds), extension services, nutritious food products, processing services, market information, transportation, credit, agro-business education, training, and enterprise services.

In five years, FED’s thrust to expand market linkages is expected to lead to substantial increases in income and job opportunities. FED aims to significantly boost the production, processing, marketing and nutritional utilization of rice, cassava and vegetables, and to enhance the productivity of goat farming in the counties covered by the program.

These initiatives are being carried out in the counties of Bong, Lofa, Nimba, Grand Bassa, Montserrado, and Margibi. FED focused on these counties because they are situated along regional development corridors that are crucial in promoting intra and inter-county commerce. These growth corridors are expected to improve food availability and access for all Liberians.

FED’s methodology is market-led and value chain-driven; it is committed to develop indigenous capacity building, with specific focus on Liberia’s women and youth.

FED’s approach is collaborative and catalytic. It is driven by the goals and objectives of our partner clients. It aims to increase incomes of rural households and create new employment and livelihood opportunities for Liberians; to improve access to food and household dietary diversity scores of food-insecure Liberians; and to promote the use of improved inputs, better farming practices, and technologies that boost agricultural productivity.

FED is implemented by five partners, namely: Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI), Winrock International, International Fertilizer Developmental Center (IFDC), Louisiana State University (LSU), and The Cadmus Group.

Executive Summary

Year to date, FED has measured a total of 120 rice harvest samples from 37 sites from FY13 rice sites (Table 1). In addition, FED has measured 17 of the total 20  FY13 Urea Deep Placement (UDP) sites. Preliminary results show that the UDP method of fertilizing produces an average 5.98 MT per hectare, 17% higher yield than the broadcast method (5.11MT/ha) and 30% higher yield than no fertilizer at all (4.62MT/ha).

FED conducted the first FY13 harvest sampling of cassava yields in Grand Bassa county (Table 5). FED sampled a total of nine sites including six demonstration sites and three non-FED sites. The FED demonstration sites, which all used improved varieties of cassava and planted in mounds and ridges reported yields in the range of 13-22 MT/ha. The two Non-FED sites planting local varieties of cassava reported an averaged 6.2 MT/ha.

FED partnered with Liberia Entrepreneurial & Asset Development (LEAD) to sign loan agreements (Table 10) totaling $1,630.000 LD ($20,375 USD) for seven FED farming groups in Montserrado, Margibi and Nimba Counties. Each farming groups decides how to divide the loans amongst the members and will pay back the loans in six months with 16% interest. The loans will be used to procure inputs and expand their vegetable production.

In the period, FED signed a MoU with USAID funded Investing for Business Expansion (IBEX) program to provide qualifying FED farmers with record keeping and financial training, in-house business development services, and support for packaging applications for financing from local banks. In addition, the two will provide feedback to beneficiaries and lending institutions to improve relations between Liberia’s agribusiness and financial sectors.

FED also signed a MoU with local rice processing firm Fabrar Liberia to increase the breadth of marketing and sales of Liberian rice through the expansion of Fabrar’s processing capacity from approximately 500 MT to 3,750 MT of locally grown, milled rice each year. This is part of FED’s effort to ensure that the future additional rice production of the FED’s beneficiaries will have a market.

FED has signed a MoU with the Louisiana State University (LSU) to support two students with degrees in Agriculture for post graduate studies in soils and horticulture. The activity is in line with FED’s mandate to build human managerial and technical capacity to support agriculture development. One student, Woiklee Payee will leave in Q2 to pursue a Master’s degree in Soils Science at LSU. He will return after one year to carry out his research work to address issues in soils identified by FED.

FED distributed three press releases in the period covering FED’s rural radio training, the goat value chain’s Community Animal Health Worker training, and the loans given to FED farmers through local micro finance partner LEAD.

The Food and Enterprise Development (FED) Program for Liberia is a USAID-funded development program that was launched in September 2011. USAID FED uses an all-inclusive strategy incorporating MSME farmers, processors, suppliers, women and youth while partnering with the government of Liberia and local civil societies to achieve food security.

The goal of USAID FED is to increase food availability, utilization, and accessibility by building an indigenous incentive structure that assists agricultural stakeholders in adopting commercial approaches.

This incentive structure will be built upon:

• Improved technology for productivity and profitability
• Expanded and modernized input supply and extension systems
• Commercial production, marketing, and processing
• Enterprise services
• Workforce development

FED works with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), civil societies and the private sector in providing communities access to agricultural inputs (including improved seeds), extension services, nutritious food products, processing services, market information, transportation, credit, agro-business education, training, and enterprise services.

In five years, FED’s thrust to expand market linkages is expected to lead to substantial increases in income and job opportunities. FED aims to significantly boost the production, processing, marketing and nutritional utilization of rice, cassava and vegetables, and to enhance the productivity of goat farming in the counties covered by the program.

These initiatives are being carried out in the counties of Bong, Lofa, Nimba, Grand Bassa, Montserrado, and Margibi. FED focused on these counties because they are situated along regional development corridors that are crucial in promoting intra and inter-county commerce. These growth corridors are expected to improve food availability and access for all Liberians.

FED’s methodology is market-led and value chain-driven; it is committed to develop indigenous capacity building, with specific focus on Liberia’s women and youth.

FED’s approach is collaborative and catalytic. It is driven by the goals and objectives of our partner clients. It aims to increase incomes of rural households and create new employment and livelihood opportunities for Liberians; to improve access to food and household dietary diversity scores of food-insecure Liberians; and to promote the use of improved inputs, better farming practices, and technologies that boost agricultural productivity.

FED is implemented by five partners, namely: Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI), Winrock International, International Fertilizer Developmental Center (IFDC), Louisiana State University (LSU), and The Cadmus Group.

Executive Summary

FED continues to select rice farmer groups in Nimba, Lofa, Grand Bassa and Bong counties. By the end of the reporting period, FED registered 19,071 lowland and upland rice farmers to be assisted during the FY14 rice planting season. These farmers expect to plant over 5,715 hectares of lowland and upland rice.

To stimulate enterprise growth in the rice value chain, FED advanced construction of six rice processing facilities in Bong and Nimba counties. The rice processing centers are located in FED’s rice business hubs, which are areas with large numbers of rice farmers who can benefit from a rice mill as well as from mechanized services to be offered in these hubs.

FED began cluster mapping exercises in Bong, Grand Bassa, Nimba and Lofa counties and to date, FED has recruited a total of 8,493 of the targeted 12,000 cassava farmers for assistance in FY14. In addition, FED completed verification of all 84 goat farmer groups for FED assistance in FY14 under the goat value chain.

FED carried out meetings with 20 vegetable farming clusters in four counties to explain the cost sharing strategy for motorized water pumps and to help the cluster design a more effective approach for its use. FED will pay 50 percent of the cost of the pumps. As a result of the campaign, 7 clusters invested a total of 97,750 Liberian Dollars in order to pay their portion of the price of the water pumps. FED also presented the groups with information on sun solar dryers for which FED will also cost share with the cluster.

FED has signed a MoU with the University of Arkansas’ Department of Agriculture to assist two Liberian candidates for graduate studies in Plant Pathology focusing on rice and horticultural crops. The students have to fulfill the qualifications required by the University in order to be awarded the assistantships. The Master of Science is a two-year degree program. Following a one year course work, the students will return to Liberia to carry out research for up to 12 months. Research topics will be jointly identified by FED, the student and her/his thesis advisor. Finally, students will defend their theses and complete coursework in order to receive their degrees. The students will be mandated to come back to Liberia to provide technical services to help build the agriculture sector.

The USAID Food and Enterprise Development (FED) Program for Liberia is a USAID-funded development program that was launched in September 2011. USAID FED uses an all-inclusive strategy incorporating MSME farmers, processors, suppliers, women and youth while partnering with the government of Liberia and local civil societies to achieve food security.

The goal of USAID FED is to increase food availability, utilization, and accessibility by building an indigenous incentive structure that assists agricultural stakeholders in adopting commercial approaches.

This incentive structure will be built upon:

• Improved technology for productivity and profitability
• Expanded and modernized input supply and extension systems
• Commercial production, marketing, and processing
• Enterprise services
• Workforce development

USAID FED works with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), civil societies and the private sector in providing communities access to agricultural inputs (including improved seeds), extension services, nutritious food products, processing services, market information, transportation, credit, agrobusiness education, training, and enterprise services.

In five years, USAID FED’s thrust to expand market linkages is expected to lead to substantial increases in income and job opportunities. FED aims to significantly boost the production, processing, marketing and nutritional utilization of rice, cassava and vegetables, and to enhance the productivity of goat farming in the counties covered by the program.

These initiatives are being carried out in the counties of Bong, Lofa, Nimba, Grand Bassa, Montserrado, and Margibi. USAID FED focused on these counties because they are situated along regional development corridors that are crucial in promoting intra and inter-county commerce. These growth corridors are expected to improve food availability and access for all Liberians.

USAID FED’s methodology is market-led and value chain-driven; it is committed to developing indigenous capacity building, with a specific focus on Liberia’s women and youth.

USAID FED’s approach is collaborative and catalytic. It is driven by the goals and objectives of our partner clients. It aims to: increase incomes of rural households and create new employment and livelihood opportunities for Liberians; to improve access to food and household dietary diversity scores of food-insecure Liberians; and to promote the use of improved inputs, better farming practices, and technologies that boost agricultural productivity.

USAID FED is implemented by five partners: Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI), Winrock International, International Fertilizer Developmental Center (IFDC), Louisiana State University (LSU), and The Cadmus Group.

Executive Summary

A significant highlight during this reporting period was the increased collaboration between Fabrar Liberia, Inc. and USAID FED to support a major FY14 work plan initiative, the development of an industrial rice mill that aims to initially process approximately 5,300 metric tons of grain rice in its first year of operation (June 2014-May 2015). USAID FED has issued the purchase order for the milling equipment, which will be the first industrial rice mill in Liberia and is expected to be delivered in June 2014. The renovation of Fabrar’s warehouse is on track and is expected to be completed in Q3 of FY14. This warehouse will increase Fabrar’s capacity to store milled rice by 1000 MT with proper ventilation and protection from pests, molds, fungus and mildews thereby preventing quality deterioration.

USAID FED initiated the first market linkages meeting between Fabrar Liberia, Inc. and over 30 farmers from Fuamah Multipurpose Cooperative Society in Bong Mines. Topics discussed included a consistent year round market for farmers, collection at the farm gate by Fabrar, cash payments for rice upon purchase, forward purchasing opportunities, and the availability of locally processed rice which farmers can purchase at lower prices. As a result, Fabrar has proposed $19 USD for 50kg of paddy. The farmers requested time to discuss this development. USAID FED expects to hear back from the farmers during the first week of April.

During this reporting period, USAID FED conducted two trader support activities with Lead Farmers and Traders from Montserrado, Margibi, Nimba and Grand Bassa counties. The activity facilitated the establishment of market linkages between PUA clusters and identified markets for the sales of high value vegetables. During the events, Lead Farmers negotiated with the Liberian catering firm ROSNA on quality, quantity, prices, procedures, schedules and the consistency expected for a contractual agreement. At the end of the event, both sides agreed to enter into a purchasing contract to formalize the partnership.

USAID FED completed the construction of the goat quarantine facility located at the Center of Agriculture Research Institute (CARI). The facility has the capacity to shelter 500 animals. USDA partner Land O’Lakes (LOL) has planned the first shipment of goats to arrive in May. USAID FED plans to inaugurate the facility in April with the U.S. Ambassador.

Throughout Q2, USAID FED, and STTAs Dr. Bradley Leger and Cristina Caltagirone, participated in numerous meetings with the MoE’s Director of Technical Vocational Education and Training, Saku Dukuly, to provide technical assistance to help move forward the process of approving the National Diploma for Agriculture (NDA) curriculum. In March, USAID FED sponsored a one-day NDA curriculum review workshop to revise the NDA structure. Workshop participants analyzed the courses and the division between practical activities and theoretical content. In addition, faculty from the NCCC presented the results from the six courses they piloted during the first semester of 2013-14. A milestone in this reporting period was achieved with the acceptance of the MoE of 30 courses to be rolled out in two Academic Years (AY). Seven courses will be rolled out in the first semester AY 14-15, to start in September.

The project procured and started the distribution and installation of 360 drip irrigation kits that are expected to improve efficiency of water utilization, especially during the dry season contributing to better yields. The drip irrigation kits were purchased from local input supplier Gro-Green, and will be installed on all of USAID FED supported vegetable farms for FY14.

USAID FED, in collaboration with CARI and the Pan-African rice research organization Africa Rice, kicked off a 10-day certification training for 31 people (24 male, 7 female) on quality seed assurance at CARI facilities in Bong County. The new seed inspectors learned land preparation, fertilization and application, seed processing and seed germination techniques. They are expected to apply these skills when working with local rice farmers in processing seed in Bong, Nimba and Grand Bassa counties. USAID FED is in the process of working on the administrative aspects of this arrangement.

During the period, USAID FED and Advancing Youth Project (AYP) assigned 28 National Agriculture Volunteers to mentor 148 AYP agriculture youth clubs at 148 schools in Bong, Margibi, Nimba, Lofa and Montserrado counties. AYP’s youth clubs consist of adult learners who have gone back to school. Gardeners at the 148 selected sites have completed clearing land, de-stumping, nursery preparation, and field layout for cassava and vegetable production.

USAID FED initiated the PUA dry season voucher activity during the quarter. The program linked input supply companies to district level agro dealers who deliver the voucher redemption phase of the program. The program includes training agro dealers on product knowledge, as well as better ways of doing business. The sale of inputs provides the agro dealers incentives to meet farmers in their villages, which then gives both parties the opportunity to be introduced, allowing for a continuing business relationship thereafter.

Erratum:

FED reported in its February monthly report on page 9, “In Lofa county, the 36 FY13 farmer group demonstration plots have finished harvesting a total of 44 MT of rice from approximately 46.5 ha of land.” The correct report is, “In Lofa county, the 36 FY13 farmer group demonstration plots have harvested rice from approximately 46.5 ha of land. Of the total harvest, 44MT have already been threshed, dried and bagged; an unknown quantity still needs to be threshed.”