SOUTHERN AFRICA—PROJECT OVERVIEW

Under the USAID Rural Livelihoods Activity (USAID Strategic Objective 15), PFID—F&V has created a Southern Africa Regional Agri–business Partnership program comprised of host country institutions, non–governmental organizations, universities, government agencies and local farmer associations/organizations and the private sector. Together, the Partnership members develop business linkages, provide technical assistance, build indigenous capacity, and develop and apply information technologies. The Partnership will also educate and provide training in market development to small–scale producers, producer associations, producer cooperatives, food processors, exporters, and the public sector. Ultimately, the program works toward the development of a more competitive economy in the region, diversification of rural livelihoods, reduction of hunger and alleviation poverty, increasing business management capacity and improving market competitiveness, expanding trade capacity, and enhancing market demand–driven agricultural development.

	Butternet squash sales to supermarkets have increased across the region.

The Rural Livelihoods Activity is designed to diversify crop and livestock production, increase the production and sales of agricultural products, and increase the incomes of small–scale commercial producers and resource–poor producers. This strategic objective will be achieved by: a) increasing trade of high value agricultural commodities to processors, supermarkets, hotel, and food services in the domestic food and export markets; b) diversifying agricultural production of resource–poor farmers; and c) improving coordination of regional agricultural and trade policies. PFID—F&V, together with its partners, is implementing the following market services support program to support these strategic objectives:

• Improve market access for small–scale producers by providing them links to buyers from supermarkets, hotel, and restaurant chains, processors, and international exporters.
• Improve access to market information for buyers and sellers through increased use of multiple information and communication technologies.
• Improve market access for alternative crops such as medicinal and herbal natural products.
• Identify regions in Southern Africa having surplus agricultural production and process these foods into fortified products for infants, school feeding programs and home–based care centers for HIV/AIDS patients.
• Improve food security and regional market knowledge by collecting informal market data on food products crossing borders.
• Conduct training of small–scale commercial producers in critical management and marketing skills.
• Facilitate market entry of medium–scale enterprises into the seed industry who are to service small–scale commercial producers in Southern Africa.

For further information contact:

PFID—F&V Regional Coordinator (based in Gaborone, Botswana):
Isang Pilane
Tel: 267–391–0703
E–mail: pfid.f&v.sa@satradehub.org
USAID Regional Center for Southern Africa: http://www.usaid.gov/locations/sub-saharan_africa/countries/
rcsa/index.html