Capacity enhancement program for semi-commercial agriculture stakeholders

Beneficiaries: 
3500households
Project District : 
Taplejung and Panchthar
Client: 
ADB/MOAC/CADP
Type of project: 
Past_consultancy
Introduction: 

Commercial Agriculture Development Project (CADP) is executed by MOAC and implemented by Department of Agriculture (DOA) under the grant assistance from Asian Development Bank (ADB). The project is being implemented in 11 districts of the eastern development region of Nepal. The overall goal of the project is to reduce poverty by increasing employment opportunity in rural areas, value addition of agriculture products and increasing rural income. Among the different components of CADP, the second component "Inclusive development of stakeholders is being implemented by Fri PAD in Panchthar and Taplejung district as per the agreement made between MOAC, DOA, CADP and Fri PAD JV HUCODEC and Fri PAD JV AGCD in Panchthar and Taplejung respectively. In this component, Fri PAD assisted and strengthen semi-commercial stakeholders (farmers, traders, processors) already partly engaged in commercial agriculture to become fully commercial and eligible for CAA membership.

Key achievements: 

a. 12 production/marketing groups strengthened in accounting, bookkeeping, planning and budgeting and groups management; and immersed in marketing, business management and agribusiness concepts;

b. Farmer-members of commodity cluster groups were trained on market matching, marketing and pricing, sorting, grading and packaging were linked the commodity clusters to various market outlets;

c. Farmer groups graduated to marketing groups, associations and cooperative;

d. 185 stakeholders adopted quality improvement methods;

e. Strengthened farmer groups/cooperatives assisted to apply for CAA membership;

Service Provided: 

  • Formation of farmer groups into community umbrella groups, associations, cooperatives or commodity groups (clusters) with a market development focus and get properly registered;

  • Planning of production of commodity groups by cluster in relation to market requirements of the wholesalers, processors, exporters with respect to quality and timely delivery of the producers per requirements of the market.Strengthen existing semi-commercial agricultural stakeholder groups in accounting, bookkeeping farm planning and budgeting, and group management;

  • Build market chain awareness (quality and supply requirements, price structure and pricing and bargaining skills) and maintain linkages among major stakeholders (farmers, traders and processors and exporter)through the establishment of formal linkage by market matching programs;

  • Improve quality assurance systems (hygiene, handling, packaging, transportation and introducing a system of certification and quality testing especially products intended for export);

  • Up-grade primary processing technology e.g. grading, processing, packaging, and quality assurance for specific products through training and provision of support facilities;

  • Train on entrepreneurship development and business planning, and price and contract negotiation;

  • Support the establishment of industry association for major commodities and that will look after the welfare of the members so that they will improve the industry for the benefits of the members, including farmers, traders, processors, and exporters;

  • Support the identification of exportable commodity production zones for selected major exportable products and assist farmers on quality improvement and exporters on finding appropriate markets.

  • Assist strengthen farmers groups and cooperatives apply for CAA membership;

  • Provide awareness training to these strengthened farmers groups and cooperatives on (a) social issues, such as economic opportunities for inclusion of the poor and disadvantaged; (b) gender issues; and (c) environmental issues and responsibility;

  • Monitor and evaluate the development of the beneficiaries and report to PMU; and 

  • Provide training and coaching to local based NGOs with which the selected NGO is in joint venture or association to enhance their performance quality.

  • Provide PMU with quarterly reports on implementation progress issues, and achievements; plus annual audited statements and annual reports.