Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MONROVIA402
2009-06-08 09:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Monrovia
Cable title:  

PROGRESS REPORT: THE GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY RESPONSE (GFSR)

Tags:  EAID LI ECON 
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O 080919Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1072
UNCLAS MONROVIA 000402 


AIDAC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID LI ECON
SUBJECT: PROGRESS REPORT: THE GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY RESPONSE (GFSR)

REF: STATE 055304

UNCLAS MONROVIA 000402


AIDAC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID LI ECON
SUBJECT: PROGRESS REPORT: THE GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY RESPONSE (GFSR)

REF: STATE 055304


1. SUMMARY: USAID/Liberia is pleased to respond to reftel with this
brief progress report on the $10 million Supplemental funds received
to enhance Liberia's food security. The funds have been programmed
to build on the success of the existing USAID Liberia's agricultural
programs and to launch a new activity in the value chain aimed at
scaling-up the production, processing and marketing of essential
staple foods in Liberia. The goal is to make Liberia food
self-sufficient by 2015.


2. Progress on each component of the Global Food Security Response
(GFSR) is as follows:


A. Component 1 - Promoting Sound Market-Based Principles.

Obligation and Sub-Obligations

The $10 million was obligated under the existing Economic Growth
Assistance Agreement with Liberia. A sub-obligation was made to
extend the USAID funded activity providing technical support to the
Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) through Associates in Rural
Development (ARD),as the implementing partner. This activity is
assisting the Government of Liberia's agriculture sector by
strengthening institutional capacity of the MOA to efficiently
implement programs and pursue needed reforms. The program provided
a forum for enhanced donor coordination and as a result has
leveraged more than $ 40 million in non-USG funding for agricultural
sector.

Progress to date includes the procurement of 50 metric tons of
foundation rice seed from the West Africa Rice Development
Association (WARDA) in order to establish a viable seed bank system
in Liberia. The 50 MT of foundation seed is expected to produce
54,000 MT of certified rice seed, which is sufficient to cultivate
about 1,350,000 hectares of rice fields. The seeds are expected to
arrive by mid-June and be ready for this year's planting season.
The seed bank will ensure a sustained flow of improved rice seed in
three years to support productive farming enterprises. In addition,
technical assistance will be provided to transfer improved
technologies, strengthen institutions, provide extension services
and human capital required to manage a functional seed system.

B & C. Components 2 and 3 - Increasing Agricultural Productivity and
Alleviating Transportation, Distribution and Supply-Chain
Bottlenecks. These two components complement one another.

Obligation and Sub-Obligations: Obligation remains the same as
stated above. Sub-Obligation for the bulk of the supplemental funds
will go towards supporting a value chain for staple food crop
diversification (rice, cassava, vegetables) and marketing activity.
The target is to improve the lives of more than 25,000 farmers by
introducing improved crop varieties and addressing key constraints
that inhibit increased production and access to markets. The
project will therefore rehabilitate 10 market buildings and 100km of
farm-to-market roads. Capacity of local agricultural
organizations/associations within the value chain will be
strengthened. More than 25,000 farmers will receive short term
training on various topics including agri-business development and
management. The project will also facilitate extension of
commercial banking services to 100 rural agri-businesses and promote
the formation of 3 global development alliances in staple and cash
crops.

The supplemental funds will also help Liberia to meet 80-85% of its
planting material requirement for the staple diet, rice, in the next
three years. Providing key inputs such as quality seed would
deliver an immediate productivity boost increasing rice yield from
less than 1.5 MT to more than 3 MT per hectare through the use of
improved seed and other improved cultural practices such as
integrated pest management (IPM),water management, as well as
technologies transfer to farmers through training.


D. Actions Being Taken to Advance the Comprehensive Africa
Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Process. The MOA received
a grant of $45,000 to hire an international consultant to coordinate
and develop a CAADP agenda for Liberia. The CAADP was launched in
Liberia on 23 March 2009 with government and stakeholders
representatives in attendance. Several consultative meetings with
farmers are being held to inform and present CAADP framework for
agricultural growth and development. It is anticipated that with
the current financial and technical assistance provided, Liberia
will achieve the CAADP compact by July 2009.


E. Actions Being Taken at Post to Coordinate USG Programs: USAID
Liberia is already closely coordinating and planning program
activities to build synergies with the planned activities of the
USAID regional office in Ghana and the U. S. Department of
Agriculture in Liberia. USAID is also working in close
collaboration with other relevant institutions, such as, the
national research institute Central Agriculture Research Institute
(CARI),West Africa Rice Development Association (WARDA) and the
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

THOMAS-GREENFIELD