Agrifood Consulting International

Better Decisions to Improve Living Standards around the World

ACI BULLETIN JANUARY 2013

Happy New Year to all! 2012 has been an exciting year for Agrifood Consulting International (ACI) and our quarterly update of activities is ready for your information. We thank you for your cooperation and for helping us address the development challenges in the countries we are working with. Below please find summary information about our activities in 2012. For more information please contact us at aci_us@agrifoodconsulting.com.

ACTIVITIES 2012.
In 2012, ACI completed 2 projects and won 3 new contracts! Completed projects in 2012:
Region China Project Knowledge Sharing Platform October 2011 to April 2012
Preparation of a knowledge product on Agriculture and Rural Development: Improving Farm Productivity and Rural Livelihood.

Client Asian Development Bank

Global (Africa, Latin America, Asia)

Agribusiness Incubator Assessment and Training October 2010 to February 2012

The objectives of the assignment are: (1) To conduct a good practice assessment of experiences in 10 countries with using business incubation to stimulate the start-up and acceleration of innovative agribusiness SMEs; and (2) To develop a training module on agribusiness incubation for developing country stakeholders.

InfoDev/World Bank

Main thematic focus is on agriculture and rural development policy, food security, disaster risk management, and agribusiness development.

New contracts in Q4 of 2012:

Nepal Lentil Export Market Study January 2013 to April 2013
The objectives are to identify alternative rapidly growing export markets and attract major buyers to source lentils from Nepal, and to secure and stabilize the present main export market for Nepalese lentils to Bangladesh.

Chemonics/USAID

Vietnam

Consulting Services Studies on Master Plan for Provincial Livestock Slaughtering Capacity Improvement Under Livestock Competitiveness and Food Safety November 2012 to April 2013
The project development objectives are to increase the competitiveness of household-based livestock producers by improving productivity and quality of livestock production, enhance the value of product through slaughter and distribution, and reduce the

MARD/World Bank

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environmental pollution in livestock product supply chains from farm to table.

Main regional focus is Asia and the Pacific.

Vietnam

Market-oriented agro-forestry project in Quang Nam province November 2012 to January 2013
Under this Project in Quang Nam Province, six communes have been supported to improve home and forest gardens. The objective is to support the improved marketing and post-harvest practices of selected agro-forestry produce in the six communes of the extension phase of the project, and to design a work-plan for direct marketing activities for the remaining 4 months of the projects.

Food and Agriculture Organization

Ongoing projects in Q4 of 2012:

Nepal Agricultural Development Strategy April 2011 to April 2013
To help the government to prepare a comprehensive development strategy for agriculture based on an analysis of the policy sector situation and wide stakeholder consultation.

Asian Development Bank

Viet Nam

Agricultural Competitiveness Project January 2011 to December 2013

The project development objective is to strengthen the competitiveness of smallholder farmers, with a focus on 8 provinces in central Vietnam, in collaboration with the agribusiness sector.

MARD/World Bank

Viet Nam

LIFSAP Socioeconomic Baseline Survey November 2010 to December 2014

The purpose is to conduct a detailed baseline survey of the livestock sector in Viet Nam for 17 provinces for the Livestock competitiveness and Food Safety Project.

MARD/World Bank

Nepal

High Mountain Agribusiness and Livelihood Improvement (HIMALI) Assignment: Package 1 PMU Management Consultant and NGO Management February 2012 to April 2017
This entails project management and capacity building to increase the income and employment of high mountain people through the value chain development of their agricultural, livestock and Non Timber Forest (NTF) products and improve the rural household livelihoods in high mountain districts of Nepal.

MOAC/Asian Development Bank

Nepal

High Mountain Agribusiness and Livelihood Improvement (HIMALI) Assignment: Package 2 Agribusiness Capacity Development February 2012 to November 2013
(See package 1)

MOAC/Asian Development Bank

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Cambodia

Financing of Agriculture in Cambodia August 2012 to January 2013

Preparation of a study on agribusiness value chain financing based on an in-depth survey of 1030 enterprises in Cambodia.

World Bank

Philippines

Research and Enhancement of Knowledge Products August 2012 to May 2013

The purpose of this project is to evaluate ADB's Operational Plan for Sustainable Food Security in Asia and the Pacific and to prepare a new draft plan for 2013-2020.

Asian Development Bank

India

Advanced Project Preparedness for Poverty Reduction Institutional Development for a Value Chain Approach to Agribusiness in Bihar (Package 1) March 2012 to April 2013
The objective is to provide capacity building in agricultural value chains and to support the development of a State Agribusiness and Marketing Policy that will guide the development of horticulture sector and to conduct a policy strategic planning process and draft a policy statement to be submitted to the State Government.

Asian Development Bank

India

Advanced Project Preparedness for Poverty Reduction Institutional Development for a Value Chain Approach to Agribusiness in Maharashtra (Package 2) March 2012 to April 2013
(see package 1)

Asian Development Bank

The highlights of ACI's work in 2012

NEW OFFICE ACI headquarters has relocated to a new office in Kensington, MD, USA. Our updated contact information is:
Agrifood Consulting International 3750 University Blvd W., Suite 305 Kensington, Maryland 20895, USA Phone: +1 301 654 2877

PHILIPPINES RETREAT On December 3, 2012 Francesco Goletti facilitated the ADB Community of Practice (CoP) Retreat on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food Security. The current assessment shows that the Operational Plan has brought food security back to ADB discourse, explained how the core areas of operations contribute to food security, and established some food security goals for ADB. Investment on food security and agriculture and natural resources has increased. However, ADB needs to do more on food security to achieve the goal of inclusive growth. ACI recommends ADB ensures inclusion of food security in the results framework, improves the M&E of the Operational Plan, enhances partnerships with the private sector, considers establishing an investment fund on agrifood, initiates a debate on food security in ADB, develops an approach for inclusive value chains, and promotes capacity development of the CoP in multisector food security. VALUE CHAIN TRAINING
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Two value train workshops were held from November 1-3 in Patna, Bihar and December 11-13 in Pune, Maharashtra, India. The objective of the workshops was to provide participants with tools and skills for improving food and agriculture value chain development. The trainers introduced key concepts of value chains and tools to describe value chains, identifying the key bottlenecks and solutions. Case studies from several Asian countries (India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Nepal) were presented. Throughout the 3 days of the course, participants had the opportunity to apply the methods they learned towards the development of the value chain chosen by their group. The methodology of the training was highly interactive with use of lectures, discussions, question and answer, group exercises, individual exercises, case studies, sharing of experiences by participants, and audiovisual case studies. POKHARA WORKSHOP The High Mountain Agribusiness and Livelihood Improvement (HIMALI) project organized a workshop in Pokhara on December 19, 2012 to formulate and develop a clear value chain concept between the upstream and downstream proponents, as well as to involve the government officers as facilitators of the initiative. The workshop focused on informing all the stakeholders of that region about adding value to the product. Another objective of this workshop was to promote and inform stakeholders of HIMALI project Activity. The proponents/ processors/traders were invited from the districts of Manang, Mustang, Bhairahawa, Butwal, Lumle and from different District Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DCCIs). About 75 participants attended the workshop. FAO AGRO-FORESTRY MARKETING PROJECT The goal of this project is to support the improved marketing and post-harvest practices of selected agro-forestry produce in six communes of Quang Nam province and to design a work-plan for direct marketing activities. Out of five selected agro-forestry products being researched, Tien Phuoc black pepper and cinnamon have been identified to have the highest potential of penetrating the tourist niche market and supermarkets. Along with the existing local distribution of the agro-forestry products, a new system has to be set up for production, sales and marketing of the identified products to meet requirements in terms of branding, consistent product quality, stable quantities and good customer services of those demanding markets. A trial sale of the most suitable products, namely dried black peppercorns and broken cassia, will be planned to test the niche tourist market and build a business model.

THANK YOU
We value your referrals Dont forget to send this newsletter to your colleagues, or send us their e-mail addresses and well do it for you. Also, were always interested in consultants who are good at what they do please contact us with your details or ask your colleagues and friends to get in touch and well take it from there. Keep us up-to-date E-mail us your latest CV and availability details at acijobs@agrifoodconsulting.com Share what you are doing and let us explore opportunities for exciting joint collaboration opportunities.

Francesco Goletti ACI President

ACI Bulletin January 2013

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