New Pilot Project to Launch Farm Service Centers as Businesses in Oromia Region of Ethiopia

An expert panel discusses challenges and opportunities in farm input distribution.
An expert panel discusses challenges and opportunities in farm input distribution.
Robert Sauers/USAID Ethiopia

For Immediate Release

Monday, February 4, 2013
U.S. Embassy
+251-111-30-70-33

USAID, under the U.S. Feed the Future Initiative, launched the Commercial Farm Service Program today in support of the Government of Ethiopia’s Agricultural Growth Plan (AGP). The new two year pilot project, implemented by CNFA, will provide grants and training to rural entrepreneurs, both men and women, to help create one wholesale and six retail farm service centers (FSCs) designed to meet the operational needs of farmers.

FSCs are medium to large-scale suppliers that provide various agricultural supplies, such as fertilizers, seeds, agricultural tools and other equipment. FSCs also provide extensive services including machinery rental, processing, veterinary consultation and marketing. Each FSC comes equipped with a training facility where farmers can receive professional technical assistance. FSCs also extend credit to farmers, enabling them to procure high quality inputs that lead to increased production and profits. The FSCs will reach at least 30,000 smallholder farmers in the Oromia Region, the largest, most populous region of the country.

See Also

Press Release CFSP Launch [PDF, 63 KB]

Press Release CFSP Launch - Amharic [PDF, 100 KB]

USAID Deputy Mission Director Jason Fraser's Opening Remarks [PDF, 127 KB]

Related Resources

USAID Ethiopia: Agriculture and Food Security

USAID Ethiopia: Feed the Future

USAID Ethiopia: Private Sector