The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded Fintrac the market-led Ethiopia Agribusiness and Trade Expansion Activity to improve competitiveness in four agroindustry sectors: coffee; hides, skins and leather; oilseeds; and horticulture. The project will dramatically improve competitiveness and productivity for thousands of farmers, processors and traders in horticulture, coffee, hides/skins/leather, and oilseed sectors, resulting in increased exports, investment, employment, and incomes. The project is three years, with options for two one-year extensions.

The program, awarded under the RAISE Plus IQC, is being implemented by Fintrac in conjunction with an array of partners including the Rainforest Alliance, Boot Coffee Consulting & Training, the Economic Competitiveness Group, Manchester Trade, and numerous Ethiopian private and public sector organizations including the Ethiopian Horticulture Producers and Exporters Association (EHPEA), the Ethiopian Coffee Exporters' Association (ECEA), the Ethiopian Tanners Association (ETA), the Pulses, Oilseeds & Spices Processors Exporters Association, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD), and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI).

A team of expatriate and local agronomists, postharvest physiologists, processing technologists, logistics coordinators, and marketing and investment specialists have been hired and have started implementing the program, which includes the introduction of modern technology to improve farmer productivity, postharvest handling, processing and marketing in the targeted sectors.

In the first three years, Fintrac anticipates dramatic increases in farmer sales and incomes, and a 700 percent increase in horticulture exports, a 59 percent increase in coffee exports, a 73 percent increase in hides/skins/leather exports, and a 45 percent increase in oilseed and pulses exports.

For more information visit www.ethiopiaag.org.