BOOST Ethiopia

Barley Organization Of Supply and Training in South East and Central Oromia (BOOST-SECO), 2020-2023

Client: International Finance Corporation (IFC)

Partners: Soufflet Malt Ethiopia, HEINEKEN Breweries Ethiopia, Agricultural Transformation Agency, Oromia Seed Enterprise, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Micro Finance Institutions, Oromia Agriculture Research Institute, Bureau of Agriculture, Oromia Cooperative Promotion Agency, Oromia Bureau of Finance and Economic Cooperation, Oromia Agriculture and Natural Resource Bureau

Goal

The goal of the project is to enhance the productivity of farmers and the quality of the resulting malt barley to meet Soufflet Malt Ethiopia’s local sourcing objectives in terms of quality grades as well as quantity

What we do

EUCORD is partnering with Soufflet Malt Ethiopia (SME) to assist with the implementation of the Barley Organization Of Supply and Training in South East and Central Oromia otherwise known as BOOST-SECO.

EUCORD is responsible for Component 1: Improving the malt barley production capacity of farmers by increasing access to improved seed varieties and other agricultural inputs. Support by IFC is used to:

1. Improve farmers’ access to improved seed varieties
2. Improve farmers’ access to other inputs such as crop protection products and fertilizer
3. Build the agronomic and technical capacity of barley producers

In addition, IFC is handling Component 2 through a contract with Precise Consult International, which is building the business management capacity of aggregators using the Agribusiness Leadership Program (ALP) and improving the clustering of farmers. Component 3, which is linked to establishing contract farming and farmer financing models, is implemented by Soufflet Malt Ethiopia.

Accomplishments

In 2020/21 the BOOST–SECO project reached about 52,750 households by engaging them in different activities such as demonstrations, seed multiplication, training and daily advisory services while about 45,000 hectares where under improved agricultural practices.

Major accomplishments achieved up till present include:

• Engaged and trained stakeholders in C2 seed production on more than 1000 ha
• Facilitation of grain collection as per the contractual agreements between suppliers and SME
• Supported seed production pilot during the belg season
• Collected demand collection for key inputs such as improved seeds, CPP, mechanization services
• Provision of technical support to smallholder farmers on agronomic practices
• Assessed training needs, production potential of different areas, and portfolio of existing CPP and demand gaps