Making a Difference

Interventions show marked success in reducing bribery along trade routes
USAID has found a way to combat corruption and inflated trade costs from extorted illegal payments along West African onion, maize and livestock transport corridors.
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Access to Finance Training Yields Results
With focused and targeted training, project beneficiaries in the maize value chain obtain much needed financial assistance.
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Ghana Maize Farmer Trains OthersEvans Peter Nsiah is on a mission to change agriculture in West Africa, starting with his corner of Ghana.  A cowpea and maize farmer and trader in Ejura al area in Ghana’s northern Ashanti region farmers in the correct use of pesticides in a regional, train-the-trainer workshop on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) provided jointly by the USAID Agribusiness & Trade Promotion project and CropLife.
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First Certificate Issued in Pilot Warehouse Receipt Program
A pilot program that will allow expanded regional grain trading and improved access to financing is the product of collaboration between a USAID regional mission and a bilateral one. Developed cooperatively by USAID/West Africa’s Agribusiness and Trade Promotion (ATP) program and USAID/Ghana’s Agricultural Development and Value Chain Enhancement (ADVANCE).....
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Rice farmers are enthusiastic about SRI
USAID efforts in bringing the new Intensive Rice-Growing System (Système de Riziculture Intensif, or SRI) to one of Mali’s rice-growing regions,have been recognized with the presentation of awards to a regional and a bilateral team leader.

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Towards a New West African Cereal Network
USAID has worked for two years to pave the way for the creation of a West African cereal network that can be a strong voice for the growing market in maize, millet, sorghum, rice, and other cereals.  Agricultural trade in West Africa is frequently hampered by seasonal restrictions, imposed by national governments for political or economic reasons.
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Avian Flu Efforts Help Lift Poultry Ban
USAID-sponsored studies and training contributed to a change in regional trade policy. In 2006, animal trade – primarily targeting poultry -- was banned between Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire following an outbreak of Avian Influenza (AI).  Four years later, with no more signs of AI, the agricultural ministries of both countries simultaneously lifted the ban.
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New Onion Variety Extends Growing Season
Burkina Faso onion farmers receive award for growing rainy season onions. One of USAID/West Africa’s primary objectives in the agricultural sector is to identify and promote innovations that can mitigate the severe impact of seasonality, while increasing both production and farmer income.
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Agribusiness & Trade Project Has Strategy for Reducing Bribery on Transport Routes
A USAID West African project has demonstrated that bribery can be reduced in regional trade by educating truck drivers on what they should and should not do on the road. Intra-regional trade in West Africa is hampered by the extensive number of road stops and illegal payments.......
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