Agribusiness and Trade Expansion Program - Fintrac Inc.

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Seminis East Africa continued its partnership with USAID-ATEP for hybrid tomato production for the local market. Seminis’ regional agronomist, Peter Randa, visited Teppo Farm, Ethio-Flora Farm, Luna Farm, Upper Awash Agro enterprise and Robani Agricultural Enterprise. In addition, a brief visit from Dick Visser, of Pop Vriend Seeds, in conjunction with its local agent, General Chemicals, identified new opportunities for pear and bean trials in the coming season. Dr. Clive Kaiser of Oregon State University provided technical training on fruit tree crops funded through the Farmer to Farmer Volunteer Program. His expertise in grapes, cherries, mangoes and avocados identified new opportunities for clients going forward. Technical assistance was also carried out by USAID-ATEP agronomists Eskinder Kebede and Hiwot Menbere for smallholder farmers in Harerghe. This activity is part of a partnership program with Harerge Catholic Service (HCS) to improve crop production and income for smallholders growing vegetables for the local market. The field training for GAPs was complemented when the Ethiopian Horticulture Producers and Exporters Association (EHPEA) and USAID-ATEP received a draft of the GLOBALGAP protocol in Amharic. SPECIALTY COFFEE Thirteen cuppers graduated and are now qualified as ‘Q’ graders, the internationallyrecognized cupping standard incorporating standards set by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA). The trainees were from Addis Ababa Coffee Liquoring Unit (CLU), Dire Dawa CLU, Oromiya, SNNPR Agricultural Bureaus and private exporters. So far, 25 Q graders have been trained in Ethiopia by USAID-ATEP in partnership with Boot Coffee Consulting, CQI, and the Ethiopian Coffee Exporters Association (ECEA). Currently, Ethiopia has more Q graders than any other coffee producing country in Africa. Monthly Update – February 2008 Agribusiness and Trade Expansion Program USAID-ATEP Agronomist Semret Kifleyesus and grape consultant Emil Van Wyk provide table grape training for Luna Fruit Farm Manager Genenew Mekonnen. USAID-ATEP horticulture agronomists and fruit consultant Clive Kaiser visit smallholder farmers in the outskirts of Nazret, Oromia. In addition to Q grader training, USAID-ATEP and its partners organized the 9 th Coffee Stakeholders and Coffee Buyer Forum. The forum was aimed at promoting the concept of Q-graded coffee in Ethiopia and assisted the actual start of Q coffee trade in Ethiopia. At the end of February, the second Roundtable Coffee Conference was held in Jimma, Oromiya Region. There were 55 participants including researchers, producers, processors, exporters, coffee buyers and roasters (from the US, Canada and Europe). The conference was organized as a forum to exchange ideas and information concerning the requirements of the international (specialty) coffee markets. Field visits created the opportunity to establish new market linkages among coffee buyers and exporters in a relatively informal atmosphere. Conference participants have www.ethiopiaag.org | www.fintrac.com 2
visited Jimma Coffee Research Center, state farms, large private and smallholder coffee farms and processing mills. A coffee cupping session was held in the Jimma research laboratory, and 29 coffee samples were cupped by local and international Q graders. The cupping result was encouraging, especially for coffee coming from our lead client at Teppi Union. This shows that the mini cupping lab we installed there is providing growers the opportunity to check quality at the source. Major field activities such as pruning and stumping have been conducted on beneficiary farmers of clients IPS and DTC. Nearly 205 coffee trees have been stumped for demonstration purposes. Technical advice was provided to clients on sucker Monthly Update – February 2008 Agribusiness and Trade Expansion Program One of the hides and skins collection centers that has started operations in Addis Ababa, Megenagna area. growth thinning as well. Two training events were held on coffee production and processing for 167 beneficiary farmers of SA Bagerish at Kochere wet mill area. The trainings are important to enhance coffee quality in the area. HIV/AIDS awareness training was also conducted in partnership with Pathfinder for beneficiary farmers. Coffee Sector Manager Ato Abayneh Alemu attended the East African Fine Coffee Association Conference and Exhibition (EAFCA) in Kampala, Uganda. Ethiopian coffee samples got some of the top cupping quality ranks at the cupping completion. Lead client Wzo Asnaketch Thomas of Amaro Gayo’s sample received one of the top ranks. More than 400 participants attended the event. HIDES, SKINS AND LEATHER For hides and skins collection centers in Tigray, we agreed on basic principles with The Relief Society of Tigray (REST) to advance microfinance support from Dedebit Institution. A needs assessment will be conducted in the region during the 2 nd week of March. The establishment of region-wide collection centers is estimated to result in raw material value increases of 8.6 million birr, creating direct employment opportunities for 340 individuals who run the centers and indirectly improve the sales of thousands of small farmer suppliers. As per the request of the SNNPR region, more than 367 technicians and trainers of trainers (TOTs) received training in postharvest management. Of the trainees 101 were from the regional Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development (BoARD). This and previous trainings reached the entire staff of BoARD. In addition, 187 hides and skins traders were trained in proper curing and logistics for handling raw stock, and 79 abattoir workers in proper flaying techniques. There is a need to train more traders and flayers in the private sector. USAID-ATEP continued follow-up and facilitation activities to support the sector by soliciting the USAID loan guarantee scheme. Loan applications for project finance of Jonzo Leather, Wondi Leather and Cro Leather were submitted to their respective banks. Total investment in the three projects is about 6.7 million birr and is expected to generate direct employment for about 450 individuals. USAID-ATEP supported TAYTU’s participation in the New York Trade Fair in February to showcase its fall 2008 collection and secure additional market opportunities to complement its summer collection. USAID-ATEP is also working with Pittards Limited UK to retail TAYTU products in their global outlets. One of the new action initiatives identified in CWG (Cluster Working Group) V was designing an effective university/industry linkage. A training needs assessment for the industry is structured and agreed upon for action in March. www.ethiopiaag.org | www.fintrac.com 3
Page 1: Monthly update - February 2008 Agri
Page 5: Monthly Update - February 2008 Agri

Agribusiness and Trade Expansion Program - Fintrac Inc.

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?