Past Projects
Armenia
Armenia Agribusiness SME Market Development Project (ASME) (2000 - 2004)
The project was designed to increase market opportunities for private Armenian agribusiness. ASME identified locations where existing and new agribusiness products were sold, and developed strategies for Armenian companies to take advantage of these opportunities. Market surveys and market analyses were conducted in the Caucasus Region, Russia, Ukraine, Gulf States, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States to identify locations where Armenian products could be sold competitively. Fintrac provided technical assistance to agribusiness firms to assist them with market identification, new product development, and productivity improvement to enhance competitiveness.
Asia
Asia Regional Agribusiness Project (RAP) (1993 - 1998)
Fintrac managed the information component of this project and published the bimonthly newsletter Market Asia, produced a series of technical bulletins on marketing and postharvest handling of agricultural commodities, designed and maintained the award-winning RAP website and responded to information requests from USAID missions and counterpart organizations in Asia and elsewhere. (India, Indonesia, The Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh)
Chad
Chad Agricultural Marketing and Technology Transfer Project (AMTT) (1992 - 1995)
Fintrac assisted the Government of Chad and the private sector to improve the efficiency of their agriculture marketing system. A subcontractor to this USAID-funded project, Fintrac provided in-country agribusiness seminars, coordinated training courses, and provided quick response services to answer market, postharvest and packaging/equipment inquiries received from farmers, processors and exporters.
Croatia
The Croatian Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement (ACE) Project (2003 - 2004)
The ACE Project aims to reduce the amount of imports of fresh fruits and vegetables by increasing Croatia’s production of high quality fresh fruits and vegetables. Targets for the project are tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, garlic, carrots, and lettuce. Assistance was offered to Croatian producers to demonstrate advanced greenhouse production techniques for cucumbers and sweet peppers. The project worked closely with the US Army and Bili Commerce, a local wholesale company, to supply US troops in Bosnia with fresh fruits and vegetables.
Eastern Caribbean
Barbados World Bank (1993 - 1994)
Fintrac provided technical assistance with funding from the World Bank to accelerate the expansion of the floriculture industry through technical support to producers and the strengthening of the marketing arrangements; to promote the establishment of farmers associations and producer- groups, especially those involved in the production of high-value horticultural produce for the export market; and to examine the potential for the introduction of commercial aloe production and processing in Barbados.
West Indies Tropical Produce Support Project (1991 - 1996)
Fintrac provided the Chief of Party this Project including technical assistance in marketing, information systems, postharvest handling, and association strengthening. An evaluation of Project beneficiaries, completed just before the end of the Project, showed that Fintrac interventions over the course of the Project were among the best received and had the most positive impact.
Egypt
Export Enterprise Development Project, Egypt (EED) (1993 - 1996)
Fintrac provided technical support in postharvest handling focusing on the export of fruits with particular reference to table grapes, vegetables and light manufacturing products into Europe and the Middle East. As a result of Fintrac interventions, table grape quality improved and subsequently exports increased.
El Salvador
Agricultural Diversification Program (ADP) (2006 - 2009)
The USAID-Agriculture Diversification Program funded by USAID/El Salvador and implemented by Fintrac Inc., focused on four primary areas, including promoting the competitiveness of Salvadoran small and medium rural enterprises, improving field production and processing by introducing clients to new, improved and affordable technologies, promoting high-value crops and value-added processing and encouraging private investment in rural areas. The implementation approach combined not only direct technical assistance to project clients throughout the value chain, but also provided training to related rural beneficiaries through farm-based demonstration plots and field days, in-plant sessions on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) compliance, food safety and HACCP accreditation prerequisites. Additionally, alliance development and capacity-building with Business Development Services (BDS) including agriculture schools, input suppliers and NGOs and publication and distribution of market and technical information were also provided. The project generated more than $81 million in new sales through project clients, new investment topped $6 million, 1,330,549 new employment days were created, more than 26,000 extension visits were made and more than 40,000 participants took part in over 3,000 training events on modern production, postharvest handling and processing technologies.
Centro de Inversión, Desarrollo y Exportación de Agronogocios Program (IDEA) (2002 - 2006)
This project supported the post-earthquake rehabilitation and long-term development of the El Salvadoran agribusiness sector. Farmers, processors and agricultural service providers have benefited from the introduction of high-value crop production using sustainable new technologies that have increased yields and incomes. The project also produced commercial market information; established stronger relationships with local and international buyers and increased the competitiveness of the agro-processing sector through the introduction of and continued compliance with food safety protocols and farm chemical safety programs. During the project farmer incomes increased by more than 100 percent, generating close to 7,000 new jobs, and increasing incomes by $21 million, a 3:1 direct client return on USAID's investment by providing commercially-focused, market led technical assistance.
Ethiopia
Agribusiness and Trade Expansion Program (ATEP) (2006 - 2011)
Fintrac’s USAID-ATEP project focuses on increasing productivity, sales, incomes and employment in four agricultural subsectors: horticulture; coffee; hides, skins and leather; and oilseeds and pulses. ATEP also addresses cross-cutting issues in health, particularly HIV/AIDS and malaria awareness and prevention; policy and organizational development; gender mainstreaming; and environmental management. By January 2010, the program was reaching more than 180,000 smallholders through alliances with critical public and private sector partners, and a focus on improved agricultural practices.
Since the project started, export quality from participating coffee, sesame and hide producers has increased; packhouses, collection centers and cupping labs have been built; export programs for new fresh produce have been established; and more buyers from around the world are sourcing Ethiopia’s agricultural exports. To date, the project has leveraged over $14.7 million in new investment to improve agricultural technologies and boost productivity.
Georgia
Georgia Supporting Added Value Enterprises (SAVE) (2002)
SAVE was a USAID funded agribusiness development project being implemented by ACDI/VOCA in conjunction with Fintrac and Deloitte, Touché, Tohmatsu where assessments of the medicinal plants market was conducted and technical assistance provided to processing companies to improve market linkages.
Haiti
Hillside Agricultural Program (HAP) (2000 - 2003)
Haiti Hillside Agricultural Program (HAP) was a USAID funded agribusiness development project implemented by DAI in conjunction with PADF, Fintrac, the University of Florida, and CIAT. Project objectives included the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices that have high economic returns while simultaneously enhancing the natural resource base of hillside farmers Fintrac was responsible for providing technical assistance on the postharvest handling and marketing component of the project.
Honduras
Rural Economic Diversification Program (RED) (2005 - 2010)
Fintrac’s Rural Economic Diversification Program is a five-year USAID initiative to increase incomes and employment opportunities in rural communities of Honduras. USAID-RED works through its lead partners – farmers, farmer groups, exporters, processors and other rural businesses – to transfer new technologies that focus on increasing the competitiveness of micro, small- and medium-size rural enterprises (MSMEs); increasing production and profitability; and expanding local and export sales. The project promotes increased investment in value-added products, and helps clients meet increasingly stringent sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) regulations.
RED has generated more than $52 million in cumulative new client sales and more than 5,800 jobs. Lead clients have invested more than $24 million in production infrastructure and equipment, including water pumps, drip irrigation, land, machinery and tools, fumigation equipment and farm vehicles.
RED’s market-driven approach and commercial focus has fostered relationships with dozens of private companies providing inputs and services to the agriculture sector and formal alliances have been established with 14 private companies for the development of model farms at 12 agricultural schools.
Farmer Training and Development Program (EDA, Entrenamiento y Desarrollo de Agricultores) (2006 - 2011)
EDA is assisting over 6,000 small farmers in 16 Honduran departments to increase their incomes by increasing productivity with new and improved technologies and higher-value horticultural products. Small farmers receive technical assistance via project technicians and NGO partners’ technical staff, all highly trained in Fintrac’s market-led extension methodology. EDA also focuses on improving market logistics, postharvest handling, certification and business development services. Its goal is to increase each participating client farmer’s income by $2,000 per hectare, and a dedicated team of M&E professionals tracks and reports on achievements to the funding entities (the US-government funded Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the Honduran funded Millennium Challenge Account).
Centro de Desarrollo de Agronegocios (CDA I, II, III and IV) Agribusiness Development Center (2000 - 2006)
This program included four USAID Agreements implemented to assist with the recovery of the Honduran horticultural sector in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch; and several follow-on programs that continued to provide similar assistance over the project period. Each phase had different targets for results indicators. Most private and public sector counterparts and clients regarded it as the most successful agribusiness development program ever implemented in Honduras. Existing and new rural development programs have borrowed heavily from the CDA approach, not only within Honduras, but within the region and elsewhere. The new Millennium Challenge Corporation’s proposed rural agribusiness program in Honduras, for example, is a near mirror image of the CDA project in terms of methodology and approach to implementation. Since the CDA project began, goals were achieved through the provision of tailored technical assistance and training to the main lead client groups. The primary program areas of marketing, production, postharvest and processing were an integral part of Fintrac’s systems approach, and are considered cross-cutting activities. Other activities included business development services, logistics, environment, certifications, worker health, food safety, and, starting in late 2004, access to finance. Total sales increased from $27 million at project inception to $45.8 million, while employment over the same period moved from 3,448 to 4,720.
India
India Agricultural Commercialization and Enterprise Program (ACE) (1992 - 1997)
Under the auspices of this project, Fintrac organized the highly successful “Horticultural Development: Sharing Experiences with Winners” and “Natural Products: World Trends” conferences in India focusing on fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, and the use of botanicals in phytomedicines, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and dyes. An Agribusiness Information Center (AIC) was also established and staff trained in a wide variety of skills required for the complete functioning of an agricultural information system (market analysis skills, desktop publishing, web design and maintenance) The AIC website, which is now solely maintained by local professionals, garners nearly 10,000 users per month.
Indonesia
Indonesia Agribusiness Development Project (ADP) (1993 - 1997)
Fintrac provided training and technical support to the ADP Project in market information, web design, market distribution, postharvest handling, and project design. Outputs included design and facilitation of in-country and U.S. market analysis and Internet training sessions for Indonesian associations and government agency staff; design and leadership of market observation tours to Japan, Taiwan, and the U.S.; and publications of market surveys and postharvest guides for Asian and off-season vegetables, fruit and frozen seafood.
Jamaica
Jamaica Business Recovery Program (JBRP) (2004 - 2005)
JBRP was a 13-month USAID-funded program managed by Development Alternatives, Inc., with a subcontract for technical implementation with Fintrac, Inc. for horticulture and poultry activities, and a subagreement with the Jamaica Exporters’ Association (JEA) for assistance to the fisheries and crafts sectors. The primary goal was to help Jamaican businesses to recover from the impact of Hurricane Ivan, and to improve their growth beyond pre-hurricane levels. Small grants for reconstruction activities to eligible small and medium enterprises were provided both directly and through business associations/groups. The provision of technical assistance and training was also provided to businesses. Sectors covered by the project included horticulture, poultry/livestock, fisheries and crafts. The primary approach was to provide farmers with weekly technical assistance, coupled with the use of appropriate technology. The total number of farmers trained under the horticulture component was 2,252. Field Advisers made 3,000 TA visits to client farms in the targeted parishes. During the project, 11,478 grants were issued and in-kind investments were made for small purchases for land preparation, seeds, seedling nursery construction and site preparation for drip irrigation equipment. 227 poultry farmers were provided with technical assistance that focused on farm sanitation and hygiene, hurricane preparedness and the use of new equipment. More than 400 were employed or re-employed as a result of the project.
Rural Enterprise, Agricultural and Community Tourism (REACT) (2005 - 2008)
REACT was designed to accelerate sustainable and equitable rural economic growth by increasing economic opportunity in rural areas through the management of biodiversity and other natural resources and commercialization of rural enterprises. Activities included provision of technical assistance, training, demonstration programs, and institutional support and sustainable rural enterprise development grants. PA Government Services Inc. PA was responsible for overall project implementation and the tourism component of the project while Fintrac Inc. was responsible for all agribusiness activities. Fintrac terminated its subcontract as of December 31, 2006 due to biodiversity funding which had limited application to its agricultural activities.
Business and Technology Services Programme (BizTech) (2000 - 2001)
The Jamaica Exporters Association (JEA) with the assistance of Fintrac, designed BizTech to increase the productivity, efficiency and competitiveness of a selected, diverse group of small and medium enterprises. This one-year project was funded by the World Bank and monitored by the Ministry of Finance.
Small Business Export Development Project (SBED) (1997 - 1999)
Fintrac was originally awarded a 12 month contract to assist Jamaican exporters in increasing exports, returns, and productivity, as well as increasing employment in the export sector overall. With the majority of target firms increasing exports over 20% within the original 12 months, USAID extended the contract by another 18 months. Tailored firm-level assistance to small and medium-sized exporters continues to be delivered in the processed foods, crafts, apparel, and horticultural sectors today, and all goals continue to be exceeded. Fintrac additionally designed and is managing a revolving, sustainable loan mechanism, which provides short-term financing of export-related activities to small and medium-sized exporters, and currently has a 100% payback portfolio. SBED was also recognized for using local professional consultants to the maximum extent possible because of sustainable implications.
Kenya
Kenya Horticulture Development Project (KHDP I and II) (2003 - 2010)
KHDP increases and sustains smallholder sales and incomes from the production and marketing of high-value and added-value horticultural products and food safety, and generates employment within the wider horticulture industry. Other objectives include provision of market development services, and expanded use of environmentally friendly and productivity-enhancing farm technologies. The project works with more than 58,000 smallholders and has expanded local and export sales by more than $50 million. Major commodities of the program include passion fruit, chilies, vanilla, flowers, mangoes and cashews, and since April 2009, pulses and root crops.
Another important component of KHDP is the promotion of the caloric and nutritional value of horticultural crops for food insecure communities, and Fintrac places special emphasis on people living with HIV/AIDS. Fintrac has additionally focused on income generating activities (especially for youth) in the zones of the country which experienced ethnic violence after the elections of 2008.
Kenya Export Development Support Project (KEDS) (1992 - 1995)
Fintrac, a subcontractor on this USAID-funded project, provided technical assistance and overseas training in production, postharvest handling, agro-processing technologies, institutional development and export marketing to Kenyan companies.
Mali
Mali Sustainable Economic Growth Project (SEG) (1992 - 2002)
Mali Sustainable Economic Growth (SEG) Project focused on promoting increases in production, processing and trade in the key agriculture subsectors of cereals, livestock and alternative commodities. Fintrac, a subcontractor on this USAID-funded project, provided long and short-term marketing assistance, established an agriculture information center (AIC), and trained counterparts to more effectively market targeted products regionally and in the EU.
Morocco
Morocco Agribusiness Promotion Project (MAPP) (1997 - 1998)
Fintrac, a subcontractor on this USAID-funded project, conducted a number of short-term market studies including Moroccan exports to Europe, production and markets for frozen and dried horticultural products, integrated production and processing of potatoes, and a North American buyer’s survey.
Rwanda
Airport Cold Storage Business Plan and Facility Design Summary (2005)
Fintrac, with funding from the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Rwanda, was hired to perform a feasibility study and design for a horticulture cold storage facility at the international airport in Kigali, Rwanda. Fintrac provided training and pre-audit assistance to exporters of pineapples and vegetables in preparation for GLOBALGAP audits. As a result of this initiative, ten exporters received certification allowing them to continue supplying EU markets.
Sri Lanka
Agro-Enterprise Project (1992 - 2000)
Fintrac provided technical assistance on this agribusiness development project in the areas of production, postharvest and marketing of non-traditional horticultural products (e.g. floriculture, seaweed, and ginger) to procure and install greenhouse structures.
Mahaweli Agriculture and Rural Development Project (MARD II) (1993 - 1995)
Fintrac was a subcontractor on the $14 million USAID Project aimed at increasing Sri Lankan horticultural exports to Middle Eastern, other Asian, European, and North American markets. Fintrac also provided technical support through market trends analysis, importer contacts, market tours, packaging requirements and grades and standards specifications. Outputs included buyer identification, product development and coordination of trial shipments.
Tanzania
Tanzania Airfreight Project (TAP) (2007 - 2009)
Fintrac worked with the Tanzania Horticulture Association (TAHA), the management company KADCO at Kilimanjaro International Airport and the Tanzanian Government to increase airfreight capacity for exportable products from northern Tanzania.
Uganda
Kasese Smallholder Income and Investment Program (KSIIP) (2004 - 2009)
Fintrac collaborated with its Ugandan partner, Agribusiness Management Associates, with Highlow Supermarket BV (Netherlands) and nine producer associations in the Kasese District of Uganda with funding from CORDAID (Netherlands) to increase production and sales of vanilla and selected horticulture crops.
Investment in Developing Export Agriculture Project (IDEA) (1995 - 2004)
Fintrac, a subcontractor on this USAID-funded project, managed the high-value agriculture development component, increased productivity and trade by introducing more efficient production technologies, improving product quality and postharvest handling, and increasing market opportunities for selected products. As a result of our work, annual export sales of targeted high value commodities increased from $9.5 million per year at project inception to over $60 million per year at the project end. Cumulatively, the Fintrac managed component resulted in over $165 million in new sales.