IFDC Annual Report 2014 | Page 31

Related Intervention Areas – Improve Nutrient Use Practices for Better Economic and Environmental Outcomes; Improve Management Capability and Profitability of Farm Enterprises Implementing Partners – GAABIC, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences of Iowa State University (ISU) and the Centre for Development Innovation of Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR-CDI) Donor – USAID Location – Ghana Commercial Vegetable Sector Development in Ghana 2013-2017 Objective – The mission of the Commercial Vegetable Sector Development in Ghana (GhanaVeg) project is to establish a sustainable and internationally competitive vegetable sector that contributes to inclusive economic growth and has the capacity to continuously innovate in terms of products and services. The initiative targets the high-end domestic and international markets (highend supermarkets, hotels, restaurants and exports). Driven by the guiding principle of fast-paced and results-oriented, the program initiated a number of business-led initiatives through a Vegetable Business Platform; Business Opportunities Fund, R&D Co-Innovation Fund and Consultancy Fund; a high-level Public-Private Dialogue; and Business-to-Business activities. Related Intervention Areas – Improve Efficiency of Input Markets; Improve Management Capability and Profitability of Farm Enterprises Implementing Partners – WUR-CDI and the Netherlands-African Business Council Donors – Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the private sector Location – Ghana Grassroots Development of Agribusiness Clusters in Mali 2009-2014 Objective – An extension of the completed From Thousands to Millions (1000s+) project, the Grassroots Development of Agribusiness Clusters in Mali (DEBPEA) project is reinforcing and expanding agricultural development in Mali. The project is increasing the number of agribusiness clusters in Mali and making agribusinesses sustainable and accessible – economically, organizationally and environmentally. DEBPEA is achieving this goal by designing and testing innovative instruments in rural finance such as contract financing, the inventory credit system and harvest insurance. To improve agribusiness clusters’ competitiveness and sustainability, DEBPEA is prompting agribusiness cluster participants to determine effective strategies to promote their product value chains by creating synergies and developing multi-participant action plans. Related Intervention Areas – Improve Nutrient Use Practices for Better Economic and Environmental Outcomes; Improve Management Capability and Profitability of Farm Enterprises; Strengthen and Support Robust Output Markets Donor – Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Mali Location – Mali Growth Enhancement Support Touch and Pay Pilot 2013-2014 Objective - The Growth Enhancement Support Touch and Pay (GES-TAP) pilot utilized new technology to: 1) improve the speed and veracity of information collected about each farmer; 2) permit farmers to redeem offline (with no need for a mobile phone, network coverage or power) by using an NFC TAP card; 3) expedite the speed of the redemption process while simultaneously improving authentication and reducing fraud; and 4) generate reports in near real-time regarding number of farmers redeemed, quantities and value of inputs per agro-dealer store. Related Intervention Areas – Improve Efficiency of Input Markets Donor – UK Department for International Development (DfID) Location – Nigeria 29 | 2014 ANNUAL REPORT