Agribusiness and Trade Expansion Program (USAID ATEP) Quarterly Report #16 (January-March 2010)

USAID’s Agribusiness and Trade Expansion Program (USAID-ATEP) aims to improve productivity and sales for farmers, processors, traders, and exporters in Ethiopia by improving agronomic practices, introducing value-added and productivity-enhancing technologies, promoting investment, establishing grades and standards, improving access to inputs, and upgrading infrastructure. 

This quarterly report  covers January to March 2010 (second quarter of PY 2010). Major achievements this quarter include:

(1) $2.2 million in client and partner investment was leveraged to improve agricultural production and processing technologies, including investment for production systems, processing equipment and infrastructure. Total investment leveraged is $16.5 million.
(2) Across all sectors, 4,915 (1,277 women) farmers received on-farm trainings. To date, 73,305 (11,023 women) farmers, processors, collectors, suppliers and extension agents have been trained at 1,050 training events and field days. 67,754 participants have also received training to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS.
(3) 681 technical assistance visits were carried out at lead client and beneficiary farms covering production, processing, marketing, postharvest handling and business development services. To date, 5,356 technical assistance visits have been carried out across all sectors.