ADVANCE
A narrative on USAID’s ADVANCE project
ABOUT US
USAID’s Feed the Future Agricultural Development and Value Chain Enhancement (USAID’s ADVANCE project) was awarded to ACDI/VOCA on February 5, 2014 and originally scheduled to end on September 30, 2018.
SUMMARY
The USAID Feed the Future Agricultural Development and Value Chain Enhancement (USAID ADVANCE) project is a five-year project implemented by a consortium led by ACDI/VOCA. The project’s main goal is to increase the competitiveness of the maize, rice, and soy value chains in Ghana. USAID ADVANCE achieves this goal through boosting the agricultural productivity of the three commodities, improving the value chain actors’ access to finance and markets, and strengthening local capacity. The project developed an outgrower business model that centers on outgrower businesses and aimed to reach 113,000 smallholder farmers. The project ensures mainstreaming gender and youth empowerment as a deliberate strategy to empower them.
USAID ADVANCE adopts a value chain approach where smallholder farmers are linked to information sources, inputs, equipment, finance, and markets through nucleus (commercial) farmers and traders (aggregators) who have the capacity to invest in these value chains. The nucleus farmers and aggregators who play a pivotal role are referred to as outgrower businesses (OBs). The project also builds the capacity of farmers and farmer-based organizations to increase the scale and efficiency of their farm businesses, through improved production and post-harvest handling practices.
PHASES OF PROJECT DURATION/IMPLEMENTATION
ADVANCE I - 1st phase: 2009 – 2014 (Target 34,000 achieved 37,022 smallholders
ADVANCE II- 2nd phase: 2014 – 2018 (Target 127,000, Achieved 131,493
ADVANCE 2.5- Extension phase: May 2019- April 2020 : Target 24,000 (17 districts with Maize and Soy value chains. No rice.
GOALS
The goal of USAID ADVANCE is to increase the competitiveness of maize, rice and soy value chains through:
- Increased smallholders’ agricultural productivity
- Increased smallholders’ access to market and trade
- Increased local capacities for advocacy and activity implementation
IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS
ACDI/VOCA, Technoserve, ACDEP, Pab Consult
WHAT WE DO
USAID's ADVANCE Project OB Model Sustainability Video
The project's main goal is to increase the competitiveness of the maize, rice, and soy value chains in Ghana by increasing productivity in targeted commodities, market access and trade, and also strengthen local capacity. The project adopts a value chain approach where smallholder farmers are linked to information sources, inputs, equipment, finance, and markets through nucleus (commercial) farmers and traders (aggregators) who have the capacity to invest in these value chains. The nucleus farmers and aggregators who play a pivotal role are referred to as outgrower businesses (OBs).The project also builds the capacity of farmers and farmer-based organizations to increase the scale and efficiency of their farm businesses, through improved production and post-harvest handling practices.
The project developed an outgrower business model that centers on outgrower businesses and aimed to reach over 127,000 smallholder farmers within Brong Ahafo and the three northern regions.
Currently, the project (ADVANCE II) is operating on a cost extension phase till April 30, 2020 will enable the project to fully implement and report on results for the 2019.
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WHERE WE WORK
ADVANCE II exclusively works in 17 districts in northern Ghana (Yendi, Mion, Karaga, Savelugu Nanton, Mamprusi Moagduri, East Mamprusi, Sagnerigu, Sissala West, Sissala East, Nadowli Kaleo, Daffiama Bussie Issa, Bawku Municipal, Bawku West, and Garu Tempane).
ADVANCE II Project Locations
Stories from West Mamprusi
AREAS OF INTERVENTION
1. Strengthening Market Linkages
USAID ADVANCE Outgrower Business Model
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2. Improving Maize And Soybean Productivity
3. Climate Smart Agriculture (Environment)
4. Promoting Crop Insurance
5. Mitigating Fall Armyworm
Story from Bawku West
6. Women And Youth Engagement
Stories from Daffiama Bussie Issa
7. Youth Engagement
Stories from Mion District
8. Using Information, Communication and Technology Innovations
SUCCESS STORIES
1. Abubakari Tindana, an outgrower bussiness showing his harvested soya at a demonstration site in Bimbilla in the Nanumba North district of Northern region.
2. Abubakari Tindana, and outgrower bussiness and his outgrowers threshing soya on a tarpauline granted to them by the USAID's ADVANCE project in Gilirisya in the Nanumba North district of Northern region.
3. USAID' ADVANCE project beneficiary happily harvesting her maize at Bulenga.
4. An outgrower at Yong recommending the Pannar seed which is an improved seed variety for improved yield to his colleagues at a field Day.
5. USAID's ADVANCE project beneficiaries at “Sell More For More” training which allows farmers to improve their yields in order to have access to good market and sell more.
6. At a “Sell More for More” training, participants interact and raise their hands to answer a question from the trainer.
7. Khadijita Seidu, leader of the Magajia group in Bulenga, recommending the pioneer adikanfo maize seed as she proudly shows her harvested pioneer maize cob.
8. Out growers of Gundaa showing their passbooks after being set up on VSLAs at Denga in the Savelugu Municipality of the Northern Region.
9. Outgrowers observing cleaned bagged maize after threshing on a tarpaulin granted to them by the USAID's ADVANCE project in Janga in the West Mamprusi Muncipality of Northern region.
10. Smallholder maize farmers winnowing maize on a USAID's ADVANCE project-supported tarpaulin at Bazua in the Upper East Region.
11. Early scouting and detection of Fall Army Worm infestation of a 20-acre of mixed cropping in Jawia in the Sissala West distrcit by USAID's ADVANCE project team and OB named Fuseini Meke.
12. Iddrisu Yussif who had 2.0 MT of maize per acre after adopting planting of hibrid seeds and GAPs in Limo in the Gushegu District - Photo credit Francis Essuman.
