Agribusiness Market And Support Activity (AMARTA)
Project Objective
This project seeks to improve the agribusiness systems for high-value export-quality commodities and high-value horticulture products for hyper-markets. The objective will be to put in place practical examples for coordinated value-chains cutting across geographical locations and sub-sectors in the agricultural economy. Such examples will permit replication of similar efforts in other areas and sub-sectors after the project ends and will result in improved investment and business climate and increased employment and income.
Project Components
AMARTA consist of long- and short-term technical assistance, public outreach and advocacy, limited commodity support and training and conferences to address the quality, marketing, institution, and policy advocacy issues.
Background
Agricultural sector development has been the key to economic growth and jobs in the past. Today, high value agriculture commodities and horticulture products have the potential to drive growth, employment and incomes. However, the competitiveness of this sector is constrained by low investment, inadequate infrastructure and underdeveloped agribusiness practices.
Total Project Size
The Project is USD 14.9 million, including USD 1.4 million of grant funds, over three years, subject to need and the availability of funds.
Project Focus
The objective of the project is to put in place a set of practical examples for coordinated value-chains cutting across a range of geographical locations and sub-sectors in the Indonesian agricultural economy.
Assessment and Strategy: A set of Indonesia Country Agribusiness Competitive Assessments serve as the foundation for understanding the macro environment in which individual Indonesian agribusinesses oper-ate.
Agribusiness Industry Assistance and model Value-chains com-modities: AMARTA uses a value-chain strategy to cover the full range of activities required to bring a product or service from its conception to its end use and beyond.
Advocacy for improved environment and removal of constraints: AMARTA works with stakeholders at the national and sub-national levels to remove policies and regulations that constrain the growth and devel-opment of key value-chains.
Training/consultancy and participant training: Key to AMARTA, and a substantial portion (at least 5%) of the project budget, will be the provision of participant training in-country and/or abroad.
Public Awareness, public affairs and communication: AMARTA will use a communication and public awareness campaign, including news-papers, magazines, radio, television, and internet-based media to support heightened public and private perceptions and promote a common mes-sage.
Value-chains Support activities: A sub-grant component will support value-chain activities and further enhance competitiveness with grants of US$5,000 to $100,000.
Program Highlights
Completed 13 value chain and cross-cutting issues assessments; and an assessment of Indonesia’s macro-economic and regulatory environment.
Signed Memorandum of Understanding between USAID, Olam Indonesia, and Blommer Chocolate Co. for productivity/quality Training of Small Holder Cocoa Farmers in Sulawesi.
Commenced the Cocoa Training Program in Sulawesi with a Training of Trainers workshop for the 57 Farmer Trainers employed by AMARTA to conduct the training program. An additional two Training of Trainers pro-grams were conducted for Government Extension Officers (17) and 27 AMARTA Field Trainers from Sulawesi and Bali. Over 3,300 cocoa farm-ers have received field school training in improved agricultural practices in the first year. Produced a series of VCD training films that address topics pertinent to cocoa production in Sulawesi, which will be used in the train-ing program. In April 2008, AMARTA completed the first Trainer-of-Trainer activity for the ASKA follow-up training program with 20 follow-up trainers attending (training activities are scheduled to begin June 2008).
Through the ASKA program, AMARTA and its partners funded the con-struction of 12 of solar dryers. As a result an additional 50 solar drying units have been constructed to date as the result of farmer initiatives with technical support from ASKA in construction.
Sponsored the first meeting of the Karo Highlands Regional Agribusiness Competitiveness Alliance (RACA) in Berastagi, which brought together farmers, agribusiness companies, representatives of farmer organizations and associations, and government officials including the Director General of Horticulture to initiate establishment of the Karo Highland Horticulture RACA.
Awarded first grant for Improvement of Fermented Cocoa Production in Bali, for the construction of a Centralized Cocoa Processing Unit that will enable farmers to ferment their cocoa and access high value cocoa markets, obtaining a higher price for their product. Additional grant activities are being developed and/or being implemented for hatchery rehabilitation and net-cage outgrower farming for grouper in Flores; improvement of Bali cattle production in West Timor; Organic and Fair Trade certification for coffee farmers in Aceh and Flores; demonstration of Jatropha production and processing for village based alternative energy (bio-fuels) in Flores; installation and testing of new technology to control coffee pests in Aceh, Flores, Sulawesi (Toraja) and Papua (Wamena); formation of a private shrimp producers organization to produce and market disease free Black Tiger Shrimp larvae, and formation of the Specialty Coffee Association of Indonesia to promote improved quality and marketing.
AMARTA expanded the project activities into Papua with participation in the USAID – Freeport Memorandum of Understanding for the Papua Agribusiness Development Alliance. AMARTA is providing technical assistance, training, and grant awards for fishing activities in Kokonao, coffee development in Wamena and Moanemani, and livestock and rice in Agimuga.
All Economic Growth activities