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 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.”

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

USAID FED verified rice surplus available in Lofa County and provided this information, including where these inventories are located, to local processor Fabrar Liberia. FED facilitated the negotiation between Fabrar and the farmers by providing information on costs and the markets, and helping the processor and the farmers to agree on $19 USD price per 50kg bag of paddy rice. Fabrar Liberia made a 25 percent down payment of $5,785.50 USD for 1,200 bags of paddy rice, or 60.9 MT. Fabrar made it clear to rice farmers that they plan 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 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 beneficiary farming groups.

The Rice Business Hubs, which are intended to support the community’s ability to process and store their rice, are equipped with a storage facility, mill, de-stoner, thresher, solar dryer, parboiling machine, water source and latrines. These hubs will also be equipped with power tillers and rice threshers, which are managed by the farmers themselves. The hubs offer mechanized and storage services to rice farmers for a fee, and also serves as platform for rice trading where larger buyers can buy rice in bulk.

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. Program partner Land O’ Lakes imported 209 goats for its goat restocking program throughout June 2014.

In May, 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. Traders expressed positive feedback and look forward to future similar such events. Goat sales generated $965 USD at this inaugural event.

In April, USAID FED supported the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) to hold the National M/SME Conference. This year’s conference highlighted agri-business and youth; 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 during the USAID FED sponsored policy forum and 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.” USAID FED began to lobby for this in November 2013 and put together the list of agroinputs and corresponding HS codes for MoCI to use to lobby for the measure.

During the quarter, USAID FED and partners launched the Liberia Agriculture Business Enabling Environment Inter-agency Policy Group (LABEE IPG), an executive level policy group that will focus on improving the business enabling environment for agriculture.

The USAID Food and Enterprise Development (FED) Program is a flagship USAID-funded Feed the Future (FtF) Initiative development program in Liberia that was launched in September 2011. USAID FED uses an all-inclusive strategy incorporating micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise (MSME), farmers, processors, suppliers, women, and youth while partnering with the Government of Liberia (GoL) 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 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 Development Center (IFDC), Louisiana State University (LSU), and The Cadmus Group.

Executive Summary

In spite of the Ebola virus disease outbreak, USAID FED has seen overwhelming success in program implementation in fiscal year 2015 (FY15). The project has exceeded targets in 19 out of its 25 indicators, and met or almost met targets in five other indicators, with one indicator—installed milling capacity—to be completed in the first quarter of FY16.

The team has been highly motivated by the positive results of programming in FY14, especially the dramatic increase in rice production that resulted in a surplus unprecedented since the war. In addition to achieving the targets, several highly notable milestones were accomplished that set the stage for sustainability of initiatives and continuing development of the food-based value chains.

Rice Value Chain Development

A total of 19,389 farmers engaged in rice production in FY14 harvested in FY15 on average three metric tons of rice per hectare—150 percent higher than the previous average production of 1.2 metric tons per hectare. As a result of their surpluses, farmers sold approximately 65 percent of their produce from the FY14 crop, whereas they used to sell only 15 percent at the beginning of the project. A total of 7,685 metric tons have been reported sold for US$3.15 million. The timely support of USAID FED to the establishment of Liberia’s first industrial rice mill, Fabrar Liberia, the 10 community rice mills housed in rice business hubs (RBH), and the massive procurement by the Ministry of Agriculture made it possible for the surplus produce to be absorbed. Sales went up by 457 percent from US$565,025 in FY14 to US$3,146,171 in FY15; exceeding target for FY15 by 135 percent.

In FY 15, USAID FED opened 3,547 ha of abandoned lowlands. This brings the total lowlands rehabilitated and developed by the project to 5,300 ha. A total of 11,800 ha of lowland and upland were planted with improved varieties of rice by 50,000 farmers with FED support. A total of 51 power tillers have been distributed to demonstrate efficiency, cost reduction, and the ability to reach scale via mechanization. Mechanization together with more efficient use of fertilizer through urea deep placement (UDP) effectively demonstrated that cost can be reduced to $7 per 50 kg bag of paddy rice. This is very important as it addresses the issue of the ability of locally produced rice to compete with imported rice. Harvesting is expected to happen in Q1 and Q2 of FY16 and is anticipated to reach 35,000 metric tons. In anticipation of more surplus production, USAID FED has commenced the construction of nine more rice business hubs equipped with a thresher, solar dryer, rice mill, de-stoner, and warehouse. Total output capacity of rice mills (i.e., Fabrar and the 19 RBHs) established with FED support will reach 29,000 metric tons by November 2015. These rice mills can absorb approximately 45,000 metric tons of paddy rice.

A notable milestone in FY15 is the emergence of entrepreneur-traders who carried out the function of bulking and transporting the paddy rice to processors. In FY 16, more aggregators for paddy rice will be needed. In addition, the distribution channel for locally produced and milled rice has to be established up-country. USAID FED has obtained the commitment of the two largest importers of rice for procurement and distribution of local rice in milled form in Bong and Nimba counties. Meanwhile, paddy rice traders in Lofa are being assisted to also be the distributors of milled rice. The challenge for these small entrepreneurs is financing, especially to cover operating costs in rice-trading, both in paddy and milled form.

A major challenge faced in FY15 was the competition with the private sector posed by the MoA by buying paddy rice at prices that are prohibitive to the private sector. USAID FED campaigned against this market distortion by the government through policy forums and meetings with GoL officials as well as key stakeholders. The President announced during the inauguration of the Fabrar processing plant that the MoA has to stop buying paddy rice. The new Minister of Agriculture also reaffirmed in September 2015 that the MoA will not be involved in buying rice and will instead support the private sector. USAID FED also insisted on local rice procurement for the rice distribution by the World Food Programme (WFP) under the Ebola Response Program in order to not undermine the efforts of the project. Fabrar Liberia and three of the FED-supported RBHs supplied milled rice to WFP for distribution to Ebola-affected communities.

Cassava Value Chain Development

In FY15, a total of 17,091 farmers harvested approximately 43,000 metric tons of cassava tubers from 2,400 ha. They obtained 18 to 22 metric tons of cassava tubers per hectare, approximately 2.5 times more than what they would traditionally harvest without USAID FED’s intervention. They sold 83 percent of their harvest for US$2.15 million, which is US$1.19 million more – or 125 percent higher – as compared to what they would have earned from their traditional harvest.

Eighty commercial nurseries have been established and are now propagating improved cassava varieties and supplying disease-free cuttings of higher yielding varieties to farmers. Processing capacities of 33 processors have been upgraded from the previous output capacity of 240 metric tons per annum to a current capacity of 480 metric tons.

An additional 13,373 new farmers (bringing the total to 31,016 beneficiaries) were supported with tools, training, and cuttings to grow improved varieties of cassava on 3,565 ha using improved practices. This crop is expected to be harvested starting Q2 of FY16 through Q1 of FY17. Production in FY16 is anticipated to reach 71,000 metric tons. This additional volume of approximately 43,000 metric tons of cassava will further bring prices down, making it more competitive for processors. Investing in large scale processing could now be more attractive to the private sector. To ensure expanded market access for this surplus production, USAID FED has proposed to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) to put in place a 10 percent Cassava Composite Flour policy. This policy would require baked products using flour to incorporate at least 10 percent cassava flour into the wheat flour. Up to 25 percent cassava content does not have a significant impact on the taste of bread. It is attractive to bakers, as it could mean cost-savings of approximately US$4.6 million due to the lower cost of cassava flour. It also means reduction in the importation bill of approximately US$8.6 million. More importantly, it could mean an additional market for approximately 43,000 metric tons of cassava tubers. The Minister of Commerce is supportive of the policy. To support implementation of the policy once passed, there is a need in FY16 to identify and support investment in a large scale cassava flour/starch processing plant, as well as support the downstream markets, such as the bakeshops in adapting their equipment and processes to implement the policy.

Vegetable Value Chain Development

Off-season production of high value and domestic vegetables has been made possible with the introduction of improved varieties of higher value vegetable species, good agricultural practices (GAP), establishment of 40 rain shelters, and provision of 188 pumps and drip irrigation kits to 4,617 vegetable farmers. Improved packaging, such as plastic crates, low-tech, affordable cooling technologies, and refrigerated containers have been introduced as part of the efforts to reduce post-harvest losses and extend the shelf life of vegetables. This comprehensive assistance has resulted in a 35 percent increase in production per ha from 4.6 metric tons in FY14 to 6.2 metric tons in FY15, 72 percent higher than FY13. The higher value of the species and improved quality has resulted in better prices, on average 185 percent higher in FY15 in comparison to FY14. The combined increase in volumes and prices resulted in a 526-percent increase in sales from US$251,107 in FY14 to US$1.57 million in FY15, exceeding the fiscal year target by 145 percent. Gross margin per ha has increased by 544 percent from US$1,125 in FY13 to US$7,245 in FY15, and by 500 percent relative to FY14.

USAID FED was gearing up to support the export of okra to Paris, but found a high unmet demand for this in Monrovia. Supermarkets expressed strong desire to buy the okra and all the other high-value vegetables that USAID FED beneficiaries are producing. The prices locally are twice the price offered by the buyer in Paris, hence it was decided to sell the produce locally.

A major challenge for the vegetable growers is access to good quality chemicals for pest and disease control, and USAID FED will focus on addressing this in FY16.

Goat Value Chain Development

The goat value chain suffered from the Peste de Petite Ruminant (PPR) virus outbreak, especially in Lofa and Nimba counties, in the third quarter of FY15. Despite this, the goat herds of USAID FED-supported farmers exhibited dramatic improvements. From a beginning inventory of 5,419 animals, the herds have grown to 16,665 animals at the end of FY15, 63 percent higher than target. Production has increased 218 percent from 3,700 animals in FY14 to 11,755 in FY15, which is 80 percent higher than target. This success in goat production is attributable to improved technologies, such as the use of shelters, vaccination and deworming, improved feeding and animal husbandry, introduction of fattening before selling, and product standardization. USAID FED’s objective was to improve the weaning rate from 54 percent at project inception to 80 percent. At the end of FY15, the weaning rate was at 98 percent. In the last three fiscal years, 7,479 kids were born and only 94 died. This means 3,346 kids have been saved as a result of the improved practices. This shows that the USAID FED approach at re-stocking is effective. Sales have increased by 185 percent from US$346,214 in FY14 to US$625,583 in FY15. Herd size of the 3,896 farmers directly benefiting from the shelters is expected to grow by 24 percent and reach a total population of 20,678 by end of FY16. Sales are expected to grow by 72 percent from 6,049 in FY15 to 10,426 animals in FY16. In addition to the 3,896 farmers, USAID FED has trained in FY15 2,500 goat farmers from surrounding communities on mineral salt lick and disease prevention.

Improving Human Nutrition

The mainstreaming of nutrition messages in training and extension delivery has reached approximately 60 percent (65,100) of USAID FED beneficiaries based on a study conducted by the project. Additionally, preliminary results of a household diet diversity survey show that approximately 22,355 households supported by the project since FY14 have improved their diet diversity. Further, preliminary analysis on another study done by USAID FED showed that the increase in incomes of farmers in the rice value chain is resulting in improved diet diversification, as evidenced by a 14.6-percent increase in USAID FED-supported rice farming households now buying vegetables.

Additional major milestones by the end of FY15 are:

1. The introduction of “tuk-tuks,” motorbikes with trailers that can carry up to 1.5 metric tons of cargo, which will help farmers in transporting cassava, rice, goats, and other produce to the markets.
2. Rice value chain integrator model established in Lofa with FED support to entrepreneur John Selma, who provides inputs to 195 farmers and will buy back their produce, mill it, and distribute it to retailers for sale in community markets. This is also a platform to promote adoption of fertilizer use via embedded financing. This will be replicated in other major rice producing areas in FY16.
3. A total of 400 metric tons of “certified” rice seeds was harvested in FY15 from 160 ha by 1,375 FED-supported farmers who were trained on seed production by the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) and Africa Rice in FY14. Regular inspection was performed by 15 seed inspectors on these seed production areas. A total of 3,432 trained seed producers planted foundation seeds on 435 ha in FY15 with FED support. Another 164 ha seed production area was jointly supported by FED and Africa Rice. A total of 2,124 metric tons of certified rice seeds of the Nerica 8 and Nerica 19 varieties are expected to be harvested in Q1 of FY16. Total “certified” seed produced will reach 2,524 metric tons by January 2016, representing 84 percent of the FED LOP target.
4. Storage capacity was increased by 7,676 cubic meters.
5. The database system for the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) has been developed; the data collection and reporting tools have been developed and piloted in the Bong County Office of the MoA.
6. Eleven special studies and surveys were carried out, including on diet diversity, women in agriculture empowerment index (WAEI), impact of increased rice production on household economics, technology adoption, and VSLA as a financing platform for agriculture.
7. USAID FED carried out a survey in August and September 2015 on post-harvest losses. Preliminary results of the survey indicate a possible reduction of 8 percent and 7.27 percent, respectively, for rice and vegetables—from 30 percent in 2011 to 22 percent in 2015 for rice, and from 45 percent in 2011 to 37.3 percent in 2015 for vegetables.
8. Extension curricula for goats, rice, cassava, and vegetables have been standardized and training manuals and farming guides have been developed and validated by stakeholders.
9. The ECOWAS seed, pesticide, and fertilizer regulations have been domesticated.
10.  Rice policy that recommends replication of USAID FED’s approach has been submitted to the Rice Policy Technical Working Group (TWG), which was to submit a rice policy recommendation to the President.
11. A total of 358 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) have improved their profitability as a result of USAID FED’s assistance, and 314 MSMEs have been registered as businesses, exceeding target by 143 percent.
12. A total of 22,205 MSMEs, including farmers, have been assisted in accessing US$930,362 in financing (124 percent of target) through 573 Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs), microfinance institutions, and embedded financing.
13. Four Centers of Excellence (CoEs) have been established with a National Diploma in Agriculture (NDA) program. Syllabi and lesson plans for 30 courses of the program have been prepared. Modern science laboratories have been constructed and outfitted with equipment, power, and water supply. Textbooks and reference materials for effective delivery of the NDA have been provided, and instructors have been trained to deliver the NDA courses.
14. A total of 52,254 or 59 percent of USAID FED beneficiaries who are implementing improved technologies are youth. This represents 132% of FY15 target. Additionally, 25 peri-urban agriculture (PUA) projects involving 500 youth were assisted and are now growing and selling high value vegetables; 86 youth entrepreneurs generated and 124 youth employed in ancillary businesses supporting the value chains.
15. Women constitute 46 percent (49,836 out of 108,340) of USAID FED beneficiaries who received training in FY15, and 36,312 of the 88,152 (41%) of beneficiaries who actually implemented improved technologies are women.

The USAID Food and Enterprise Development (FED) Program is a flagship Feed the Future (FtF) Initiative, USAID-funded development program in Liberia 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

USAID FED has met or exceeded its targets in 12 out of 26 indicators by the end of quarter three of fiscal year 2015 (FY15).

USAID FED is on track in nine other indicators and will be achieving or exceeding targets in these indicators by the end of September 2015.

For three indicators: 1) number of households with improved diet diversity as a result of USG assistance, 2) percentage reduction in Post-Harvest Losses (for rice, cassava and vegetables) and 3) gross margins, special surveys will be carried out in quarter four to determine level of accomplishment.

For increased installed milling capacity, USAID FED has achieved 3600MT out of its target of 10,560MT. This represents 34% of target achieved. The target will be achieved with the completion of nine rice business hubs, which will have a total milling capacity of 7,600MT/annum. This is anticipated to be achieved by end of September 2015.

USAID FED planned in FY 15 to advance six policies to the next stage. These policies are: 1) the seed regulation, 2) pesticide regulation, 3) fertilizer regulation, 4) National Standards Laboratory (NSL), 5) National Livestock Policy, and 6) EO#64. EO#64 was implemented briefly, but did not have significant impact because its implementation period coincided with the Ebola outbreak. It expired in April 2015. Effectively, FED’s target has been reduced to five policies as a result of the expiry of EO#64. FED will focus work in advancing to the next stage the seed, pesticide and fertilizer regulations, the National Standards Laboratory, and the National Livestock Policy in quarter four. A seed policy STTA has been hired and commenced work in the last week of June.

Major Events in FY15 Quarter Three

On April 9th, 2015 the President of Liberia, H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and United States Ambassador to Liberia, Deborah Malac, were in Kakata, Margibi County to officially inaugurate Liberia’s first industrial rice processing and warehousing facility, Fabrar Liberia Inc. Fabrar Liberia Inc. (Fabrar) is a fully incorporated, Liberian owned and run agriculture holding firm created in 2009. In 2014, with financial and technical support from the U.S. Government through the USAID Food and Enterprise Development (USAID FED) program and private equity financing from West Africa Venture Fund, Fabrar was able to procure an automated rice processing mill and expand its warehouse facilities. The industrial scale facility, now with double its previous capacity, can mill 30 metric tons (MT) of rice each day and store 1,000-MT with proper ventilation and protection from pests, mold, fungus and mildew. As the country’s largest rice processor, and currently, the only industrial processor, Fabrar Liberia Inc. will provide Liberian farmers with an incentive and motivation to grow quality rice as a business and not just for subsistence.

On May 14, 2015 USAID FED hosted a high level delegation from USAID Washington, White House National Security Council, and the Congressional Liaison Office. The delegation visited one youth farming group in Margibi County called See Yourself Farming Group. This farming group is currently growing okra for export to the European markets. After visiting the farm, the delegation toured Fabrar Liberia Inc. rice processing facility at Kakata, Margibi County, which was supported by USAID FED. After completing the facility tour, the delegation participated in a round table discussion with USAID FED supported farmers and other beneficiaries representing all four USAID FED value chains. The delegation from Washington DC was headed by Eric Postel, Associate Administrator, USAID and John Mark Winfield, USAID Liberia Mission Director.

On May 20, 2015, USAID FED in collaboration with the Government of Liberia (GoL) inaugurated the Liberia Business Incubator (LBI) Cassava Processing Facility in Virginia, Monsterrado County. The Honorable Speaker of the House, Alex Tyler, US Ambassador Deborah Malac, the Honorable Minister of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), Axel Addy, other GoL Officials, cassava farmers and representatives from development organizations officially launched the facility in the outskirts of Monrovia. LBI, a fully incorporated woman owned Liberian business which is also run as an agriculture holding firm, was created in 2010. LBI adds value to cassava by processing it into gari, fufu and cassava flour. USAID FED supported LBI with improved cassava processing equipment worth USD $44,950, which will enable the enterprise to process 5 MT of cassava per day instead of the previous 2 MT daily. LBI employs 6 staff but now with the added capacity will increase its staff to 14 full time employees.

On June 3, 2015 USAID FED conducted a roundtable conference with the media to discuss what the FED project is about, its accomplishments, ongoing and upcoming activities and future plans. A total of 21 media institutions participated in the event. At least five newspapers printed articles and four radio stations aired the roundtable discussion. Three online publications including the Government website, Liberia News Agency (LINA) published electronic articles about FED following the press roundtable event.

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.

USAID FED’s thrust to expand market linkages over the five year span of the project 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

FED is off to a good start in FY15, with several milestones achieved in the first quarter and several targets met or exceeded. By the end of Q1 FY15, USAID FED exceeded rice farmer recruitment target by 45%. A total of 12,113 (6,869 male, 5,244 female) lowland rice beneficiaries against a target of 7,175 have signed up for the program.

During the reporting period, USAID FED-supported rice processor, FABRAR Liberia, delivered 90 MT of milled rice to the World Food Program (WFP) valued at US$63,000. WFP will distribute the rice to Ebola affected regions in Liberia as part of the organization’s emergency response to the Ebola crisis. Farbar sourced the paddy rice for this delivery to WFP from USAID FED-supported farmers. In December, FABRAR procured an additional 150 MT of paddy rice valued at US$55,500 from FED-supported farmers.

The preliminary results of the scaled up Urea Deep Placement (UDP) field trials in FY14 support the findings of the pilot UDP trials carried out in FY13, showing UDP technology as a superior technology as compared to a broadcast application of urea. Based on partial harvest results, UDP application produces an average yield of 5.36-5.44MT/ha, urea broadcast application yields 4.23MT/ha and zero fertilization results in 3.77MT/ha. This demonstrates that UDP application results in yields that are 26 to 28% higher than urea broadcast application, and 42 to 44% higher than zero fertilization. Meanwhile, urea broadcast application delivers only 12% higher yield in comparison to zero fertilization.

USAID FED-supported cassava processor, FALAMA, procured 52.5 MT of raw tuber from Bong and Montserrado counties. Of this total, 16.5 MT of raw tubers were sourced from USAID FED supported cassava farmers. FALAMA, in turn, produced 6.5 MT of gari, 1 MT of flour and 1.25 MT of cassava chips, which were sold for a total of US$5,980. FALAMA sold 2 MT of gari to the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH), and 2 MT of gari to General Services Agency (GSA) for an Ebola holding center, 1 MT of cassava flour to Paynesville Bakery Association and 1.25 MT of cassava chips to 12 supermarkets.

USAID FED-supported farmers from 21 FY14 clusters reported the sale of 70.74 MT of vegetables worth US$32,817. Additionally, the USAID FED-supported Monrovia Traders Association reported earnings of US$14,732.83 during the quarter for the sale of 7.9 MT of vegetables.

USAID FED signed up 3,666 (2,163 male, 1,503 female) vegetable farmers, representing 97.76% of total target number of farmers to work with in FY15 under the horticulture value chain. Verification and identification of the remaining 84 farmers will take place in January 2015.

During the quarter, USAID FED-supported goat farmers sold 973 goats (688 bucks, 275 does and 10 kids) valued at US$ 60,111 from the FY14 goat production sites.

USAID FED attained its target of identifying 154 Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) in Nimba, Grand Bassa, Bong and Lofa counties. USAID FED will train the CAHWs on veterinary drugs handling, usage and treatment of animals to enhance access to animal health care in the 77 goat sites.

USAID FED reached its Q1 FY15 target identifying a total of 25 clusters and 500 youth (271 male, 229 female) between the ages of 18 to 35 years of age in Montserrado and Margibi counties. The youth are expected to cultivate a combination of high value and local vegetables. In FY15, USAID FED plans to support youth farmers in establishing agribusiness pilots that will focus primarily on peri-urban and urban vegetable production, as well as ancillary support services such as aggregation and trading.

For the first time in Lofa’s history, local farming organizations received Micro Finance Institution (MFI) loans totaling $39,930 from the Liberian Entrepreneurial and Asset Development (LEAD) in collaboration with USAID FED. The USAID FED-supported local farming organizations are expected to invest the loans in agriculture related activities. LEAD is a beneficiary of the USADF $ 237,000 grant.

In Q1 FY15, a total of 103 women entrepreneurs graduated from the USAID FED Leadership and Business Incubation for Women Entrepreneurs Training Program. These women were trained on leadership, effective communication, effective negotiation, public speaking, strategic planning, basic record keeping and basic business registration. The Leadership and Business Incubation program for Women Entrepreneurs aims to address two critical constraints facing women: lower human capital (leadership and business skills) and less access to networks and information.

During the month of December, USAID FED-supported Booker Washington Institute (BWI) harvested fresh okra (304 lbs), watermelon (1,390 lbs.) and cucumber (399 lbs.) from the institutions’ USAID FED-supported vegetable farming enterprise.

USAID FED completed and officially turned over the goat shelter which comprises general housing, maternity and quarantine center to Nimba County Community College (NCCC). This goat shelter is part of USAID FED’s farm development activity which supports NCCC’s National Diploma in Agriculture (NDA) practical sessions, and aims at generating income for the NCCC Center of Excellence in Vocational Agricultural Education.

The USAID Food and Enterprise Development (FED) Program is a flagship Feed the Future (FtF) Initiative, USAID-funded development program in Liberia 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 (GoL) 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

USAID FED received 49 units of tuk-tuk from the vendor, MASARCO Inc. in August that are going to be distributed to youth entrepreneurs on a cost share basis. The entrepreneurs are going to provide transportation of raw cassava tubers, paddy rice, and goats from the farm gate to the market at a fee. USAID FED will provide training on business management and also help the youth entrepreneurs access loans for the improvement of their tuk-tuk businesses. In addition, the 49 youth will meet the operational and maintenance costs and pay 50% of the cost of tuk-tuk as their cost share. The distribution ceremony will be held on September 18 in Suakoko, Bong County. The three wheel tuk-tuks have a capacity to carry 1,500 kilograms of produce when fully loaded. Each youth was also provided with a tool kit, helmet, and other accessories for the repair and maintenance of the tuk-tuks. This initiative aims to address gaps in logistics to transport produce from the farm to the markets. Youth entrepreneurs were selected as beneficiaries in line with USAID FED’s conscious effort to increase youth participation in agriculture and to
create employment opportunities for youth in Liberia’s agriculture sector.

In August, the three refrigerated containers that USAID FED procured arrived in Liberia. A reefer container can store about 16MT of assorted vegetables. Two private sector partners, ROSNA Services Inc. and Gbomai Farms Inc., are the beneficiaries of the refrigerated containers. Both companies are owned and managed by Liberian women entrepreneurs. Hannah Blackett is the owner and CEO of ROSNA, and Gbomai Bestman owns Gbomai Farms Inc. ROSNA has been sourcing vegetables from USAID FED-supported vegetable growers since 2014 from Grand Bassa and Nimba counties. The companies will expand their businesses and local procurement with this added capacity to store more vegetables to supply workers in the concession areas and ERA Supermarket Chain, of which Ms. Blackett is also the CEO. Gbomai Farms is strategically located close to the Roberts International Airport, and plans to provide fee-based cold storage services to vegetable farmers in the surrounding area.

During August, a total of 1,950MT of cassava tubers were harvested from FY 14 USAID FED supported farmers. In August 512 MT of FY14 cassava tuber were sold for US$39,933. In total, 15,464 MT of FY14 cassava tubers have been sold for US$724,630 year to date.

USAID FED continues to see stable sales of goats by USAID FED supported farmers. During August, a total of 335 goats from USAID FED supported farmers were sold for US$21,318. In total, 5,466 goats have been sold for US$308,954 year to date.

Under USAID FED’s Task 2.0, a complete and final draft of the Liberia Seed Regulation was submitted to the MoA on August 27, 2015. The USAID FED local seed policy expert, Dr. Roland Massaquoi, a former Minister of Agriculture, is working with the MoA to facilitate the passage of the Liberia Seed Policy and Regulation.

In August 2015, an International Pesticides Policy Expert, Dr. Alan Schroeder was hired by USAID FED to provide support to the “domestication” of the ECOWAS Pesticide Regulation. He is going to present the draft Pesticide Policy and Regulations to stakeholders at a workshop to be held on September 2-3, 2015. It is expected that the complete and final draft of the Liberia Pesticide Policy and Regulations will be submitted to the MoA by the end of September 2015.

USAID FED concluded partnership discussions with the West Africa Fertilizer Project (WAFP), resulting in the production of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that is expected to be signed on September 3, 2015. This will result in a joint effort between WAFP and USAID FED to support the Ministry of Agriculture in developing a draft of the Liberia Fertilizer Regulation, including its implementing guidelines. These draft regulations will be presented at a two-day stakeholder validation workshop, which will facilitate the domestication of the ECOWAS Fertilizer Regulation in Liberia. Under the leadership of the MoA, USAID FED and WAFP intend to conduct the validation workshop from September 22-23, 2015.

The Business Service Providers (BSPs) sub-contracted by USAID FED trained 3,179 MSMEs on business management. The training program covered topics that include establishing and registering a business, planning for a successful business, marketing, and financial management. The BSPs also facilitated the registration of 124 MSMEs during the month of August. The support provided to the businesses included preparing articles of incorporation; by-laws and constitutions; and actual registration with the Liberia Business Registry (LBR) or with the MoCI’s Department of Small Business Administration.

In August, a USAID FED supported farming group, the United Communities Agriculture Group from Jeremiah Gardee Town in Grand Bassa awarded a US$89,187 grant by the United States African Development Foundation (USADF). USADF selected this group as grantee due to their successful adoption and implementation of technologies and practices learned from USAID FED interventions. Through the support of USAID FED, the United Communities Agriculture Group has become one of the largest cassava producing communities in Grand Bassa, and the group intends to use the grant to expand their commercial cassava production.

During the reporting period, USAID FED facilitated the process for the Monrovia Vegetable Seller Association (MVSA) to receive a US$25,000 loan from Liberia Entrepreneurial and Asset Development (LEAD). The MVSA will use the loan to provide inputs (embedded financing) to 474 USAID FED supported vegetable farmers on credit. The farmers will sell their produce to MVSA and the loan will be deducted from the total value of vegetable sales.

In August, the installation of laboratory equipment began at the newly renovated science laboratories in all four USAID FED supported Centers of Excellence for Agricultural Vocational Education (CoEs). Installation of equipment in all four laboratories will be completed in September.