Feed the Future Egypt Food Security and Agribusiness Support Project

Activity Name: Feed the Future Egypt Food Security and Agribusiness Support Project Quarterly Report Number: FY2019 Q4 Covering Period July 1 – September 30, 2019 Cooperative Agreement No. AID-263-A-15-00022

Submitted to: Submitted by: Benjamin Lawrence, Agreement Officer Brett Aronson, Program Officer USAID/Egypt CNFA 1/A Nadi El Etissalat Street 1828 L Street NW, Suite 710 Off El-Laselki Street- New Maadi Washington, D.C. 20036 Cairo, Egypt

Submitted on: October 31, 2019

Table of Contents Acronyms ...... 3 Program Description ...... 4 Executive Summary ...... 6 Activities this Quarter ...... 9 Component 1: Improved On-Farm Productivity and Income for Smallholder Farmers ...... 9 Component 2: More Efficient Post-Harvest Processes ...... 17 Component 3: Improved Marketing of Agricultural Crops and Products ...... 22 Component 4: Improved Nutritional Status for Women and Children ...... 25 Investment Grants ...... 26 Cross-Cutting Activities ...... 28 Gender ...... 29 Host Country Government engagement ...... 29 Donor Communications and Corporate Activities ...... 30 Coordination with other projects ...... 30 Implementation Challenges ...... 31 Activities Next Quarter ...... 32 Annex 1: Press release published on the pomegranate festival...... 37 Annex 2: Media monitoring for pomegranate festival ...... 39 Annex 3: Indicator Progress QTR 4, FY2019 July 1 – September 30, 2019) ...... 42 Annex 4: Table of new Farmers’ Cooperatives/Association’s signed MOUs ...... 44 Annex 5: Institutional capacity building and female entrepreneurship workshops conducted...... 45 Annex 6: Farmers’ Cooperatives/Associations Assessed by FAS ...... 46 Annex 7: Training Activities on Agriculture Best Practices by Product and Governorate...... 47 Annex 8: Distribution of Forward Contracts by Association, Value Chain, Number of Feddans and Farmers ...... 48 Annex 9: List of Exporters and Processors Visited and Status of Contracts ...... 51 Annex 10: Number of Visits Between End-Buyers and Associations ...... 52 Annex 11: Cumulative Onion Sales ...... 53 Annex 12: Participants Receiving Nutrition Messages by Association, District & Village ...... 54 Annex 13: List of Participants by Association and Location ...... 56 Annex 14: List of Farmer Service Center representatives in Sahara Fair ...... 57 Annex 15: Female Entrepreneurs Participating in FAS Workshops ...... 58 Annex 16: Monitoring and Evaluation Activity Progress During the Quarter ...... 58

Acronyms

AEC Agriculture Export Council APS Annual Program Statement B2B Business to Business CDA Community Development Associations DQA Data Quality Assurance EGP Egyptian Pound EIAT Egypt Italy for Agri-business and Trade ERAS Egypt Rural Agribusiness Strengthening Project FAS Feed the Future Egypt, Food Security and Agribusiness Support Project FTF Feed the Future FTRI/ARC Food Technology Research Institute/ Agriculture Research Center FTTC Federal Trade Training Center GAP Good Agricultural Practices GCCA Global Cold Chain Alliance ICT Information and Communication Technology IFPRI International Food Policy Research Institute IP Implementing Partner IPM Integrated Pest Management LOP Life of Project M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MALR Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation MOU Memorandum of Understanding MSS Ministry of Social Solidarity MT Metric Ton NFSA National Food Safety Authority RBM Results Based Management SUP Safe use of pesticides USAID United States Agency for International Development USD United States Dollar USG United States Government WFLO World Food Logistics Organization

Program Description

The FAS Project was awarded in July 2015 to VEGA with CNFA as the prime implementer. The program’s overarching goal is to increase incomes and improve food security for 14,000 Upper Egypt smallholder farmers.

To meet this goal, the market-driven program is supported by four interrelated components: 1) Improved on-farm production 2) More efficient post-harvest processes 3) Improved marketing of agriculture crops and products 4) Improved nutritional status, especially for women and children

The FAS Project is implemented by a strong consortium of partners with complimentary technical expertise. The consortium is led by CNFA and includes Winrock International, World Food Logistics Organization (WFLO) and Souktel. CNFA, as prime implementer, provides contractual accountability, strategic leadership, financial management, volunteer technical assistance, subcontract and grant management, and technical expertise, specifically as regards to best agricultural practices, access to improved inputs, strengthening farmers’ groups, improving access to markets, and nutritional messaging. Winrock International is leading work to assess irrigation- related constraints and opportunities, and to promote improved irrigation technology adoption and use at the producer association level. The Global Cold Chain Alliance and its core partner, WFLO provides international and local technical expertise to support the development of cold chain infrastructure and related technologies. Blue Moon, a former implementing partner, worked to expand Global GAP and FairTrade certification across the seven target governorates, but this work has now been replaced with an emphasis on alternate regulatory compliance efforts. Souktel guides program activities in information and communications technology (ICT) and has designed applicable ICT-based solutions for benefit of smallholder farmers.

The FAS project has a $4,183,397 million grants fund used to refurbish and develop productive infrastructure, catalyze innovation, stimulate investment, and support the development of critical value chain segments. The grant fund will also leverage $3.5 million of private sector investment by the end of the project.

Project Design Framework

Overall Goal: Increase Agriculture-related Incomes of Smallholder Farmers in Upper Egypt Component 1: Improved on-farm productivity and income for smallholder farmers Activity 1.1: Associations and cooperative strengthening

Activity 1.2: On-farm training to improve volumes and quality Activity 1.3: Promotion of innovative tools and technology Activity 1.4: ICT solutions for extension and irrigation Activity 1.5: Strengthening input suppliers (agro dealers) Activity 1.6: Preparation for successful post-harvest handling Component 2: More efficient post-harvest processes Activity 2.1: Vertical integration of farmer groups Activity 2.2: Post-harvest facility operator capacity building Activity 2.3: Agro-processing enterprise development Activity 2.4: ICT solutions for post-harvest processes Component 3: Improved marketing of agriculture crops and products Activity 3.1: Forward contracting between suppliers and buyers Activity 3.2: Trade show attendance Activity 3.3: ICT solutions for marketing Activity 3.4: Buyer Visits Activity 3.5: Expanding certification of farmer groups Component 4: Improved nutritional status especially for women and children Activity 4.1: Targeted ICT nutrition messaging Activity 4.2: Community Nutrition Mobilizers Activity 4.3: Nutrition messaging targeted to women in the agro-processing workforce

Executive Summary

This project quarterly report covers the period from April 1 through June 30, 2019. During this period, the USAID Feed the Future Egypt, Food Security and Agribusiness Support (FAS) project made significant progress in all areas of work. Highlights from the reporting period include:

- Carrefour headquarters in Paris, France, officially enrolled the Al Baiahoo packhouse on their supplier list in late September, 2019. On the basis of this, Al Baiahoo Association is now eligible to supply Carrefour orders under their umbrella contract. In the final week of the reporting period, 16 tons of high-quality pomegranates were supplied to Carrefour under this contract. This supply was followed immediately by a request from Carrefour Kuwait for export of 3 containers of high-quality pomegranates. Price negotiations continue; it is expected that this will be carried out in the next quarter. - FAS project completed and signed 8 new grant agreements with input supply businesses to help them establish Farm Services Centers. This business model, new to Egypt and tested by CNFA in other countries, will offer sustainable and integrated services to thousands of smallholder farmers. - FAS project participated in a series of strategic round table events at the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation (MALR) on the future of extension services in Egypt. The FAS project promoted a perspective under which private sector could play a larger role in extension service delivery, with MALR contracting services, and regulating the sector as appropriate. Discussions were also held around use of Farm Service Centers as a private vehicle for delivery of extension services. - MALR requested that Mr. Dominic Graham, FAS project CoP, present at the Sahara Expo on the future role of Farm Service Centers in Egypt. The presentation was successfully delivered, generating substantial new interest in the model. Currently, discussions are ongoing. - 8,315 farmers received production trainings, on-farm technical assistance, and follow-up advisory across the 7 target governorates this quarter. - 50 mango farmers, 24 date palm farmers, and 10 basil growers participated in scientific trips organized by FAS project to visit model farms, cold storage units, and the Agriculture Research Center, which gave the farmers insight into new technologies and practices. - To facilitate access to finance for cooperatives and associations, FAS project organized a meeting for 3 Minya associations with the Egyptian Agriculture Bank to help them negotiate receipt of revolving loan capital from the bank that they could use to cash flow purchase of higher value input supplies for their membership. - 637 participants representing 60 cooperatives and associations joined 22 workshops on results-based management, marketing strategy, financial management, female entrepreneurship, and farm business management. - Winrock consultant Mr. Timothy Pfeiffer visited the Farm Service Centers’ demonstration plots to evaluate the selected sites for testing and demonstrating improved irrigation technologies. Investment in these technologies will take place in the next quarter. - FAS project facilitated participation by 70 farmers and 8 Farm Service Center managers from across Upper Egypt to the Sahara Expo to enable them to make better future investment decisions in agriculture inputs, solar, and irrigation technologies.

- FAS project provided on-farm post-harvest training and technical assistance to 75 farmers of marjoram, basil, and thyme in Minya, 66 mango growers in Aswan, 420 date palm growers in Qena, Luxor and Aswan, 30 okra farmers in Beni Suef, and 182 pomegranate farmers in Assiut. - FAS project supported 201 coding requests sent by 1,160 pomegranate farmers that needed to be cleared by the Agriculture Quarantine, Agricultural Export Council & Horticulture Department at MALR. 664 farms were Coded by the end of this reporting period with up to another 150 Codes still to be issued in the next reporting period as farms are re-checked for pesticide residues. - FAS project signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Food Safety Authority (NFSA) in which the project agreed to raise awareness among producers in Upper Egypt about food safety and the importance of traceability and registration for exports. FAS project and NFSA made joint audit and capacity building visits to collection tents in Assiut and Beni Suef, to enable those centers to achieve NFSA accreditation. - The first collection center of the Youth Association for Development in Al Badary was inaugurated on September 17. The collection center was established on a cost-share basis between the USAID-funded FAS project and the association and will serve more than 400 farmer members of the association and other farmers in the surrounding areas. - FAS project organized a two-day pomegranate festival in Assiut to celebrate the success of the pomegranate season together with pomegranate farmers, aggregators, exporters, AEC, NFSA and local government officials in Assiut Governorate - World Food Logistics Organization (WFLO) visited Abo Al-Wafa Abdel-Rahman packing house in El Badary, Assiut Governorate, to advise them on how best to raise their efficiency. - Souktel published 1,000 post-harvest messages to 490 pomegranate farmers in Assiut. - FAS project facilitated 40 successful contract negotiations between buyers and farmers associations/groups for pomegranates and green beans. - FAS project facilitated sales contracts, connecting farmers to buyers at the end market, generating total sales revenue of EGP 3,734,775 (USD 208,647). - 2,550 household and smallholder farmers received FAS nutrition messages aiming to create awareness about adopting good practices in selecting nutritious and food preparation. - 1,197 women and 38 men in Sohag, Assiut, Minya and Beni-Suef governorates received a series of interactive trainings on healthy foods. - 14 women entrepreneurs from El Gamalia Community Development Association in Luxor participated in FAS training on entrepreneurship principles. - 24 women representing the Women Leaders Association, the Businesswomen Association, and the Arab Women Association at the National Council for Women in Minya participated in Female Entrepreneurship training organized by FAS and learned about funding programs available through MSMEDA. - The project completed data collection, data entry, and data analysis as part of its latest seasonal outcome survey. The outcome survey report is attached. Some key results are:

o Productivity: Across all crops, 86% of surveyed farmers reported improved yields over the previous year, with thyme (97%) and onion (92%) farmers reporting the highest levels of improvement. Tomato farmers reported the lowest improvement, at 68%, likely reflecting their relatively higher expenditure on inputs and stronger technical capacities at the start of the season. o Producer Group services: Farmers most rely on producer organizations for access to agricultural inputs, farming advice and information. Farmers voiced a common opinion

that producer organizations should offer more financial, marketing and agricultural services. o Certification: while only 10% of farmers felt they had received the best price they could for their product, only 6% indicated willingness to invest in agricultural certification for themselves. Later project experiences with certification of pomegranate farmers in Assiut (to be covered in the next seasonal outcome survey) demonstrated a high willingness to invest in certification. While understanding of this dynamic is purely experiential, it is reasonable to assume that farmers are motivated more by the prospect of loss of market access (pomegranate exports are now required to have certification) than by the positive opportunity presented by possible access to new markets. o Contracts: Across all crops, 86% of surveyed farmers reported having held at least one contract during the growing season, with 98% of those farmers reporting successful contract completion. o Volume of sales: In total, the 950 sampled FAS project beneficiary farms sold product for EGP 118,462,902 (USD 6,618,039) in the growing season under review.

Activities this Quarter Component 1: Improved On-Farm Productivity and Income for Smallholder Farmers Activity 1.1: Associations and cooperative strengthening The USAID Feed the Future Egypt, Food Security and Agribusiness Support (FAS) project works with around 140 associations and cooperatives across its 7 target governorates in Upper Egypt. The majority of cooperatives and associations with which the project works share similar challenges: weak management capacity for basic functions such as ensuring member farmers benefit from membership; limited ability to identify new high-end market opportunities for members; and insufficient capacity to effectively negotiate sales contracts on their behalf. In addition, many key businesses in the market lack capacity to effectively engage with and serve the full range of smallholder farmers in the target area. The project therefore strengthens the capacity of associations, cooperatives and key businesses to raise smallholder farmer incomes by increasing the diversity and value of their market connections, including connections with high- end input and output sales markets. The objective of enhancing the capacity of associations/cooperative and key businesses in target market systems is to help make them into more successful pro-farmer actors and for them to be better able to continue activities initiated under FAS project beyond the project life. The FAS project delivers this in a way that also promotes gender inclusion and equity in project activities. During the reporting period, the FAS project signed new MOUs with seven Cooperatives/Associations: 2 in Aswan, 2 in Luxor, 2 in Sohag, and 1 in Minya. The MOUs identify the roles and responsibilities of each party and detail the technical assistance to be provided by the FAS Project. For more details on these, refer to Annex 4: Table of New Farmers’ Cooperatives/Associations Who Signed MOUs

Institutional Capacity Building: During the reporting period, the FAS project organized and delivered 4 workshops for members of 26 cooperatives and associations in Sohag and Luxor governorates. The workshops, attended by 128 board members and staff of those producer groups, were focused on results-based management and marketing strategies. As a result of the workshops, participants are now better able to design and manage their activities using results-based frameworks, including how to negotiate Fig-1: participants from associations and cooperatives participated in the forward contracts for horticulture. Other Results Based Management and Marketing workshop in Luxor workshop topics included management functions, use of key performance indicators, Gantt charts, market studies, market mixing, and marketing strategy. The workshops utilized a participatory approach that included group work on case studies, role-plays, presentations, and discussions. Final evaluations of the workshops indicated that more than 94% of participants felt they had benefited significantly from the training.

The FAS project also conducted 6 workshops on financial management for 113 participants representing 14 cooperatives and 5 associations in Aswan, Luxor and Sohag governorates. The workshops enhanced the capacity of board members and cooperatives and association staff to undertake essential financial management functions, including financial management, accounting systems, financial policies and procedures, financial documentation, bookkeeping ledgers, and financial statements. For additional information, refer to Annex 5: Institutional capacity building and female entrepreneurship workshops conducted during the reporting period, and Annex 6: Farmers’ Cooperatives/Associations Assessed by FAS

Activity 1.2: On-farm training to improve productivity and quality This quarter, 8,315 farmers received trainings, on-farm technical assistance and follow-up advisory across the 7 target governorates. For more details, please refer to Annex 7: Table showing agricultural best practice training and technical assistance by product and governorate.

In Beni Suef, Minya and Assiut governorates, the project delivered training and technical assistance to 2,601 smallholder farmers. Notably, 217 grape and pomegranate farmers received on-farm training in agricultural best practices. Key training topics included integrated pest management and improving fruit size and color. (fig 2)

In the same governorates 2,384 smallholder farmers in anise, basil, grapes, green beans, okra, onion, pomegranate, marjoram, thyme and tomato received technical advisory and follow-up visits on a range of different topics tailored to the assessed needs of farmers. According to these assessments, the main challenges facing farmers were: lack of Fig-2: FAS project trained grape knowledge about chemical composition of their land and, therefore, the farmers in Minya to control appropriate types and quantities of fertilizer needed by crops at mealy bugs in grapes different production stages; lack of awareness around some diseases and symptoms affecting crops and relevant treatments. It was also frequently found that lack of proper irrigation of crops did not take into account particular crop needs, temperature, humidity, soil and water salinity, or other issues. This resulted in inefficient irrigation technologies and practices that cost farmers in terms of water pumping costs and overuse of chemicals that are diluted too much by excess irrigation water.

The support growers received from the FAS project enabled them to: - Increase thyme yields in Abbad Sharona area (the largest area for thyme cultivation in Upper Egypt) by changing planting methods, using micro-element sprays and reducing

irrigation volume. (fig-3) - Raising productivity of basil in Assiut by properly controlled powdery mildew. (fig-4) Fig-3: Thyme farmers increased their production with support from FAS project

- Achieving improved quality and higher volume of onion crop in Beni Suef by controlling use of fertilizers and avoiding use of pesticides against fungal diseases. - Raising the value of pomegranates by adopting production practices promoted by the FAS project on use of fertilizers, irrigation, and integrated pest control. - Increasing the value of grapes by applying proper Fig-4: With support from FAS project, basil pruning and controlling pests in appropriate farmers maximized their productivity fashion.

In Luxor, Qena and Sohag governorates the FAS project delivered training and technical assistance to 4,220 smallholder mango, pepper, tomato, onions, okra, pomegranate, green beans and date palm farmers. Training topics covered agriculture operations before and after the production season, land preparation, appropriate use of fertilizers, efficient irrigation, and integrated pest management (IPM).

In Sohag Governorate, the project trained green bean farmers on applied farming methods, and educated them on export marketing requirements including how to raise production standards in order to take best advantage of the opportunities Fig-5: Training green bean farmers in Dar El Salam Center that those new markets represent. (fig-5) in Al Shoraneya in Sohag

In Luxor and Qena governorates, mango farmers lack knowledge on modern production technologies and practices; this knowledge could help open new end market channels for these farmers. To address this, the project delivered pruning and canopy management training to these farmers, taught them new cultivation practices for common varieties, and integrated pest Fig-6: On farm training for mango farmers in Luxor and management techniques. Qena

FAS delivered training on the safe use of pesticides and on protecting the environment and consumers from the dangers presented by overuse or abuse of pesticides. (fig-6) Training was linked to the specificities of particular pesticides, correct methods for spraying pesticides, clothing and tools used in the spraying process, how to dispose of empty pesticide containers, preventive measures when spraying, and first aid in case of accidental poisoning.

In Aswan Governorate the FAS project delivered on- farm and classroom training to 390 mango, date palm and basil farmers. Topics included: selection of basil seeds, nurseries preparation, fertilization, irrigation, drying and processing of the crop, control of date palm and mango pests, particularly date palm weevils, proper processing of mango, and important diseases that mango farmers should be aware of. (fig-7) Fig-7: Date palm farmers in Aswan attended technical Technical assistance and follow up visits were training on red weevil control provided to 1,322 farmers of mango, date palm and basil to ensure they are applying the aforementioned FAS recommendations in their farming practices.

Activity 1.3: Promotion of innovative tools and technology Promoting new technologies: The project facilitated a scientifically -focused trip for 30 mango farmers from Luxor, Qena and Sohag to visit the Agriculture Research Center and Pico Modern Agriculture Company. The purpose of the visit was to update their knowledge on new methods for cultivation of mango seedlings and to learn more about a range of common pests and diseases that can reduce the productivity of mango crops if not properly handled at the farm Fig-8: 30 mango farmers from Luxor, Qena and Sohag level. Farmers who joined the trip came away attended a training at Pico Farms on growing mango with fresh ideas and skills with which to improve seedlings. the value of their mango production and have begun to share this knowledge and experience with small farmers neighboring their lands. (fig-8)

24 date palm farmers from Edfu and Kom Ombo districts in Aswan visited 3 model farms, cold storage units, and a date palm drying area with support from the FAS project. On their visits the farmers gained knowledge about date palm cultivars, local resources for date palm seedlings, met with date palm tree service providers, and learned about different approaches for controlling the red date palm weevil. The FAS project separately facilitated a visit for 18 Fig-9: Aswan farmers visited three mode date palm other date palm farmers from Draw, Edfu and Kom farms to learn about new technologies Ombo to the Agriculture Research Center, Pico Company , and El Ghataty model farms to learn about the application of new technologies in date palm farming. (fig-9)

Twenty mango growers from Aswan visited a model farm, 2 mango seedling producers in Giza, and the Agricultural Research Center to learn about mango production and methods for producing healthy seedlings. (fig-10) Ten basil farmers from Aswan visited the Agricultural Research Center and a model farm run by Sekem Company to learn about Fig-10: FAS organized scientific trips for Aswan mango farmers to learn about how to produce quality seedlings. production, processing, and harvesting technologies.

Smallholder farmers business school: In Aswan, Luxor, and Sohag governorates, the project organized 12 workshops on managing small farms with a business-like approach. 292 smallholder farmers attended these events, including 7 female farmers. The workshops gave attendees a basic understanding of horticulture farm management from a business perspective. Participants learned about farm management as a business, essential marketing studies, how to undertake technical studies, measuring production costs, agriculture risk management, and financial analysis. The methodology of the workshop included presentations, group discussion, and application of case studies. with Mr Mohamed Shawky, SME Executive Manager in Cairo of the Egyptian Agriculture Bank, to negotiate the possibility of initial capital for the associations to establish a revolving loan fund that they could use to provide cash flow for input supply investments among their member farmers. During the meeting, which was attended by 6 board members including 2 women board members, executive bank staff explained the funding process and received fund applications from the 3

associations. The bank plans to conduct due Fig-11: Three associations in Minya met with the Egyptian diligence on the 3 applicants in the next quarter. (fig- Agriculture bank to negotiate a revolving fund for managing 11) an input supply finance scheme Farmer Service Centers (FSC): During the reporting period, the FAS project signed grants agreement with eight input suppliers for the establishment of Farmer Service Centers in their respective governorates. To promote the Farmer Service Centers (FSC), the project organized a contract signing ceremony which was attended by Dr. Mohamed Abdel Latif, Central Administration Manager of Agriculture cooperation and Dr. Saad Moussa, Director of Foreign Relations in the Fig-12: FAS project signed grant agreements with Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, the eight input suppliers for the establishment of Farmer undersecretaries of each governorate, and Service Centers representatives of the 8 grantees. The centers will provide smallholder farmers with integrated agricultural services, including agriculture machinery

services, extension services, marketing information, pesticides, seedlings, fertilizers, and lab services analysis. (Fig-12 and 13) As part of a comprehensive capacity building plan for the FSC managers, the project organized an orientation workshop about FSC management. Sixteen participants from the 8 FSCs joined the workshop to learn about business management, marketing, and financial management. The project also supported these input supply company grantees to visit the Sahara Expo, which introduced them to a range of new ideas, products, and connections for onward promotion and sale at Fig-13: Engineer Khaled Abdel Rady, Under their FSCs, which will increase the types of products Secretary of Agriculture in Luxor, watches the FSC contract signing and services available to smallholder farmers. For more details please see Annex 14: List of Farmer Service Center representatives at the Sahara Fair Expo

Activity 1.4: ICT solutions for extension and irrigation Improved irrigation management is an important way by which smallholder farmers can find cost efficiencies in their production and therefore raise net incomes. Introduction and use of improved irrigation technologies also aligns with Government of Egypt (GOE) plans for improving irrigation efficiency. Improved irrigation is an important element of the FAS project strategy for raising the profitability and long-term sustainability of horticulture crops, fruit trees, and vineyards, as better water management can result in increased crop quality, yields and income. Following up on work done earlier in FY19, Mr. Timothy Pfeiffer, Winrock consultant who is working with the FAS project, visited proposed Farm Service Center demonstration plots between June 23 and July 5 to help assess their potential and to determine which technologies would be most appropriate to promote to local farmers at each site. These technologies are those already identified by the same consultant in previous quarters as being available on the local market and affordable to small growers, or groups Fig-14: Winrock consultant selected sites to be used for of small growers. demonstrating the various types of irrigation technology available on the local market. Beyond the demonstration sites themselves, Winrock recommended continuing to strengthen the ability of associations and cooperatives to improve on-farm irrigation practices through technical assistance during the production cycle, and to emphasize the promotion of drip

irrigation because it is the most market-ready technology for farmers using pumped water for irrigation. Where plot sizes are small and farmers use canal water, it was decided that low-cost improved surface irrigation methods and technologies could be promoted instead. Sprinklers and other more advanced irrigation technologies and improvements could additionally be promoted where it makes sense to do so. (fig-14)

The Farm Service Center demonstration plots have all been prepped for irrigation equipment installation and procurement is underway to source the specific technologies to be promoted at each site. Mr. Pfeiffer will return to Egypt in the next quarter (December) to oversee installation and assist demonstration plot managers to understand the potential value of the new systems to enable them to effectively promote the technologies to local farmers.

Activity 1.5: Strengthening input suppliers (agro-dealers) Sahara Expo: On September 9-12, the FAS project brought 70 farmers and 8 Farm Service Center managers from across Upper Egypt to the Sahara Expo. The farmer participants from agriculture associations and cooperatives across the seven target governorates met with Fig-15: FAS brought 70 farmers from across potential distributors, wholesalers, suppliers, and retailers. Upper Egypt to visit the Sahara Expo. The farmers learned about water pumps, modern irrigation systems, seeds, fertilizers, plant protection, tissue culture techniques, greenhouses, environmental protection, packaging, energy technologies, and nurseries. Having spent time examining these new technologies and meeting with potential technology suppliers and buyers, participating farmers are now better able to make good investment decisions for new input supplies and agriculture, solar, and irrigation technologies. (fig-15) On their return to their home Fig-16: 70 farmers connected with input villages, farmers were responsible for sharing their suppliers at the Sahara Expo. experiences and new connections with farmer neighbors and

other farmers in their area. Each of the 70 farmers discussed the event with at least 10 farmers upon their return. (fig-16)

At the request of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Mr. Dominic Graham, COP FAS project, gave a presentation on the first day of the Sahara Expo on the important role of Farm Service Centers. He explained the Fig-17: Dominic Graham, FAS COP, gave a contribution the FAS project has made for establishing these presentation on farmer service centers at centers in Upper Egypt to provide farmers with certified input the Sahara Expo supplies and technical assistance on a commercial basis. (fig- 17) Ms Manal El Samadony, USAID/AOR for the FAS project, joined the FAS project team at business meetings during the Sahara Expo. She met with input supply companies and discussed their potential collaboration with FAS project to Fig-18: Ms. Manal El Samadony joined FAS supply smallholder farmers with high quality inputs. (fig-18) team business meetings at the Sahara expo.

The FAS project also gave a presentation on the third day of the Sahara Expo on FAS project experiences using Information and Communications Technology (ICT) as a tool for providing technical assistance to farmers in agriculture, irrigation, post-harvest, nutrition, and marketing. FAS farmers attended seminars at the Sahara Expo on Fig-19: Farmers and representatives of FAS sustainable development opportunities for promoting associations and cooperatives visited the Sahara Expo the palm date sector and on strengthening marketing resources for smallholder farmers in rural Egypt. (fig-19)

Component 2: More Efficient Post-Harvest Processes

Activity 2.1: Vertical integration of farmer groups Medicinal and Aromatic plants (marjoram, basil and thyme): During the reporting period, the FAS project delivered awareness sessions, on-farm practical training, and field visits to 75 marjoram, basil and thyme farmers at Al Hoda, Abbad Sharona and El Safa associations in Minya Governorate. The focus was on good post-harvest practices, particularly for drying the crops. The training covered the use of Fig 20: FAS provided awareness sessions to farmers maturity indices and guidance that they could pass on in the Abbad Sharona association on drying thyme to farmers to maintaining product quality during harvest. (fig 20) Mango: The FAS project delivered practical training and field visits to 66 mango farmers in Edfu and Kom Ombo in Aswan to educate farmers on good practices for harvesting and handling mango, and to raise their awareness on the importance of replacing wooden cages with cardboard packages when packing mango, which will enable them to sell mango Fig 21: 66 farmers in Aswan received FAS training according to market requirements. (fig 21) on harvesting and packing mango in cardboard packages Date Palm: The FAS project delivered practical, on- farm trainings to 420 date palm farmers in Qena, Luxor and Aswan governorates. The main objective of these trainings was to raise awareness among smallholder farmers of the importance of using net bags to cover palm date bunches to protect their product from birds in order to maintain product quality. To encourage farmers to use net bags, FAS distributed 5,000 of them to the trained date palm farmers and trained them on their use, to demonstrate the the value of protecting date Fig 22: FAS project distributed 5,000 net bags to date palm farmers to cover their date bunches bunches. This simple, cheap and effective method of covering dates to protect them through maturity will help farmers to substantially increase production value. (fig-22) Okra: FAS project provided practical trainings and field visits for 30 okra farmers in Abshana in Beni Suef, to disseminate good practices for harvesting and handling Fig 23: 30 okra farmers in Abshana in Beni Suef okra to raise their awareness on the importance of received FAS training on good post-harvest practices

harvesting at the right time (every 3-4 days), and to avoid leaving fruits on trees after maturity (which ensures product quality). (fig-23) Pomegranate: 182 pomegranate farmers in Al Badary, Al Fatah, and Sahel Selim in Assiut Governorate received practical training and on- farm visits from the FAS project. These interventions promoted the use of canvas bags for pomegranate harvesting to avoid fruit from Fig 24: FAS project trained pomegranate farmers in Assiut on using canvas bags for harvesting to protect dropping to the ground and being damaged. Using product quality the canvas bags will maintain product quality, increasing their value which will make it easier for farmers to sell their product in the market at a good price. (fig 24)

Activity 2.2: Post-harvest facility operator capacity building Registering pomegranate collection centers in Assiut Governorate: As part of its work collaborating with government agencies to support the ability of small farmers to comply with export requirements for their products, FAS project signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Food Safety Authority (NFSA) under which both parties will raise awareness among producers in Upper Egypt of export food safety requirements. In this regard, the project organized a seminar on introducing pomegranate collection centers in Assiut, which was attended by 77 pomegranate producers, exporters and marketers. The seminar focused on NFSA requirements to register pomegranate collection centers in Assiut. FAS project, in cooperation with NFSA, provided a training and awareness session to the target collection centers, pack houses, producers, traders and exporters to educate them on the requirements for the accreditation and registration of the collection centers.

As a next step, in coordination with NFSA, the project facilitated audit visits to 46 pomegranate collection tents, 2 pomegranate post-harvest centers, and 21 export company sites. The project also organized field visits with NFSA to 2 collection centers in Hussein Nameq Association in anticipation of future harvests: one for green beans and the other for multiple crops. The visits were undertaken to ensure collection tents were in compliance with NFSA accreditation requirements and included in the list of certified approved collection centers and exporters (the ‘White List’). It was also an opportunity for NFSA to further promote the new regulations and raise awareness of them. During this reporting period, 64 collection centers applied for NFSA registration and 21 were approved.

Collection tents: The project plans to establish 8 collection tents in Upper Egypt on a cost-share basis with associations so that they can better maintain product quality and reduce waste of fresh products from member farmers. The collection tents will also serve as a hub for gathering high volumes of product to facilitate their sale in bulk quantities to larger buyers and exporters.

The first of these collection centers, at the Youth Association for Development in Al Badary, was Fig 25: FAS established, on a cost sharing basis, the inaugurated on September 17. The collection center first pomegranate collection center for the Youth was established on a cost-share basis between the Association for Development in Al Badary FAS project and the association. The association cost share comprised: land costs (LE 54,000), cement and other materials (approximately LE 50,000), steel (approximately LE 10,000), netting (approximately LE 500) and labor. The collection center, which serves more than 400 farmer members of the association and other farmers in the surrounding area, makes it possible for the association to supply pomegranates to a wide range of buyers. This also enables export companies to more efficiently load pomegranates from the collection center and export them in proper condition due to the proper storage of pomegranates in the collection center. (fig-25) Fig 26: WFLO advising on the technical In cooperation with the World Food Logistics specifications needed to raise the efficiency of Abo Organization (WFLO), FAS visited Abo Al-Wafa El Wafa pack house Abdel-Rahman packing house in El-Badary in Assiut Governorate. The purpose of the visit was to raise the efficiency of the packhouse by providing recommendations to them on optimal design and technical specifications for packing functions and cooling units. (fig-26)

Pomegranate festival: FAS project organized a two-day pomegranate promotion event in Assiut Fig 27: The collection tent in Bosra displayed the process of preparing pomegranates for export Governorate to celebrate the success of the pomegranate season with pomegranate farmers, aggregators, exporters, AEC, NFSA and local government officials in Assiut Governorate. (fig-27)

The events were attended by Engineer Hoda Ismail, General Manager of Agriculture, who was there on behalf of Engineer Ibrahim Serour, Under Secretary of Agriculture in Assiut. She was joined by others from her office, the Agriculture Export Council, the National Food Safety Agency, exporters, aggregators and farmers. The first day highlighted pomegranate farms in Badari District and included presentations from farmers who had improved the quality of their pomegranates by applying technical recommendations from the FAS project. A Fig 28: A seminar was given for farmers in Bosra on the safe use of pesticides collection center in Bosra District hosted an event displaying processes involved in preparing pomegranates for export and a seminar was given to farmers on the safe use of pesticides. (fig-28) FAS hosted a celebratory event, recognizing the work of agriculture associations and lead farmers in enabling more than 1,000 farmers to achieve certification under the new Ministry of Agriculture Coding scheme, which supports their current and future ability to export their products.

On the second day, Engineer Hoda Ismail inaugurated the first pomegranate collection tent run by the Youth Association for Development in Al Badary, in the presence of NFSA and exporters. (fig-29) The collection tent was established on a cost share basis between the FAS project and the association. This new collection tent will help the association to more efficiently supply pomegranates to a wide range of buyers, who will load Fig 29: Engineer Hoda Ismail, General pomegranates from the collection center and export Manager of Agriculture in Assuit, inaugurated the collection tent established on a cost share them in good condition due to the proper storage of basis between USAID/FAS and the Youth pomegranates in the collection center. Association for Development in Al Badary, Assiut. Activity 2.3: Agro-processing enterprise development Cold Chain Exhibition: FAS has identified a lack of awareness in Egypt amongst farmers and post- harvest processors about the short and long-term benefits of utilizing cold chain infrastructure to improve their marketing opportunities. In addition, most farmers depend on expensive and non-renewable sources of energy for their operations, exposing them to changes in electricity prices that have been rising rapidly in Egypt. This has led to an urgent and important need for farmers to shift to renewable sources of energy as an important and inexpensive alternative in the long-term transition from non-renewable energy sources. However, the obstacle to implementing this solution is the expensive upfront cost of solar energy technologies.

FAS project, led by implementing partner the World Food Logistics Organization (WFLO), also a core partner of the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA), have been organizing a Cold Chain Exhibition to provide market actors in the Egyptian market with access to new cold storage and solar energy/logistics technologies. The event will take place in January 2020 and will showcase 10-15 international cold-chain infrastructure technology companies. The event is expected to attract hundreds of participants from the sector who will have an opportunity to network and learn about the benefits of adopting innovative cold chain technology.

Activity 2.4: ICT solutions for post-harvest processes Through project partner Souktel, the FAS project sent 1,000 post-harvest messages to 490 pomegranate farmers in Assiut Governorate. Messages included advice such as reminders on when to undertake activities, and guidance on how to do them. For example: “It is preferable to cover pomegranate fruits on the edges of trees with paper bags to protect them from sunlight.” By following this advice, farmers can give the fruit time to ripen on the tree without yellowing the outer skin of the fruit. This does not impact the flavor of the fruit, but consumer preference in many countries is for pomegranates to look uniformly red in color.

Component 3: Improved Marketing of Agricultural Crops and Products

Activity 3.1: Forward contracting between suppliers and buyers Carrefour contract goes live: In April 2019, FAS project supported Al Baiahoo Association in Minya Governorate to sign a contract with the high-end Carrefour supermarket under which hundreds of smallholder farmers will sell at least 100 Metric Tons of fresh fruits and vegetables every month. To validate the contract to enable farmers to supply their fresh products to the supermarket chain, Carrefour headquarters officially enrolled Al Baiahoo in their supplier list under a supplier number which was sent to Al Baiahoo mid-September. On the basis of the supplier number, Al Baiahoo association supplied 16 tons of high-quality pomegranates to Carrefour in the final days of the reporting period. This was followed by a request from Carrefour Kuwait to export three containers of high-quality pomegranates to them. It is expected that this order will be fulfilled, alongside others, in the next quarter.

Forward contracts: Smallholder farmers lack access to finance which limit their ability to use quality input supplies and which forces them to accept the financial terms offered by the local trader which in most cases are restrictive and not profitable to farmers. To overcome such challenges, FAS has encouraged farmers to enter into forward contracts, as these contracts provide farmers with advance payments which they can use to cover their production cost, and to buy the input supplies which they need. During the reporting period, the project facilitated the following 40 forward contract negotiations: - 24 contract negotiations between 13 green beans exporters and nine farmers, two cooperatives, and one association. These contracts involve green bean farmers in Sohag. - Signing of four forward contracts between Shabab for Development association and four buyers, and one contract between El Deeb collection center and buyer. - Signing of 11 contracts between Shabab for Development association and 11 collection centers.

FAS project helped farmers negotiate forward contracts for onions to be supplied to Al Pharoneia Bioherbs Company. The fulfilled contracts generated total sales revenue of EGP 3,734,775 (USD 208,647). Other contracts completed on better than local market terms were for supply of 830 tons of onions by Agriculture Community Development Association farmers in Beit Khalaf, Gerga, Sohag, at an average price of 4,500 EGP/ton (USD 251/MT). For more detail, please see Annex 8: Distribution of Forward Contracts by Association, Value Chain, Number of Feddans and Farmers

Direct sales to new market channels: As a result of FAS project efforts to facilitate farmer access to new market channels and to market information, 180 tons of mangoes were sold at Al Obour, 6 of October, and El Hadara wholesale markets at a total sales value of EGP 2,273,000 (USD 126,983). Following the visit, farmers also sold other mango varieties, namely:10 tons of Golok variety at EGP 11/kg, 10 tons of Zebdeya at EGP 12/kg, and 10 tons of Ewis at EGP 15 EGP/kg at the El Hadara wholesale market, which amounted to total sales revenue of EGP 380,000 (USD 21,229). This significantly exceeds the EGP 270,000 (15,083) that would have been available to the same farmers at their local market, representing a price increase of around 40%. This was followed by a second, independently managed transaction, where farmers supplied further mango: 25 tons of Ewis at EGP 18/Kg, 75

tons of Zebdeya at EGP 11/Kg, 40 tons of Golok at EGP 12/Kg, and 10 tons of Fons at EGP 13/Kg to the three wholesale markets, at total sales revenue EGP 1,885,000 (USD 105,307). Now that these farmers have been assisted to independently discover buyers, negotiate sales agreements and deliver product, there is a good likelihood that they could continue this sales model in future years if they see a large price discrepancy between local and national wholesale markets.

Activity 3.2: Trade show attendance FAS project started work on plans to participate in the 5th Date Palm Festival in El Wadi El Gedeed, and at the Food Africa 2019 exhibition, both of which are slated to take place in December.

Activity 3.3: ICT solutions for marketing During the Sahara Expo, FAS project facilitated an educational session on FAS’ experience using the Digital Extension Services Platform (DESP) to disseminate the technical recommendations of the project to farmers and other target groups. The session was attended by expo participants who were interested in using digital platforms; participants included agriculture practitioners, farmers, other donor funded projects, and Fig 30: FAS project organized a session at the Sahara Expo governmental agencies. (fig-30) on FAS’ experience in using the Digital Extension Service Platform Activity 3.4: Buyer visits FAS project facilitated farmer access to new market channels and market information by bringing 15 farmers of pomegranates, mango and grapes from to visit Al Obour, 6 of October, and El Hadra wholesale markets. Farmers were introduced to the fruit traders in the wholesale market, connected with a number of traders, learned about wholesale market procedures, and price differences as compared to other markets. For more details, see Annex 9: List of Exporters and Processors Visited and status of contracts, Annex 10: Number of visits between end-buyers and associations, and Annex 11: Cumulative onion sales

Activity 3.5: Expanding certification of farmer groups Certification: Coding pomegranate farms in Assiut Governorate To help farmers to export their products and sell their pomegranates at high prices, FAS facilitated Coding for 1,000 pomegranate farmers. This Coding is a new requirement issued by the GOE for all pomegranate exporters. The FAS project planned this activity in close collaboration with GOE officials.

FAS project provided awareness sessions about the importance of coding and the coding process to pomegranate farmers in Al Badary, Sahel Selim and Sedfa districts in Assiut Governorate, which will open up export channels for their products. The project also helped farmers prepare their Coding requests and Coding applications. In order to qualify farmers to become Coded, the FAS project assisted farmers with traceability compliance and provided farmers with practical training

on the safe use of pesticides, mixing, spraying and disposal of pesticide containers after usage, and the importance of wearing protective clothes during pesticide application. The project also designed, printed and distributed a “farmer notebook” (please see the separately attached “Pomegranate Manual”) for all applicant farmers to record their agricultural processes and pesticide use - a primary requirement of the Agriculture Export Council (AEC), which requires that farmers should record and report the use of pesticides and harvest dates. The FAS project, in collaboration with a committee from Agricultural Quarantine, the Agricultural Export Council and the Horticultural Department in Ministry of Agriculture, assisted farmers in Sahel Selim, Sedfa and El Badary in their applications for accreditation and Coding. This support included facilitating an audit visit by the MALR Horticulture Department to verify the number and size of lands cultivated for pomegranates, to compare those with the areas documented by the MALR. FAS then supported farmers to send their Coding requests to the AEC. The farmers paid inspection costs, which were as follows: . (1500 EGP to the AEC for coding cultivated areas more than 10 feddans) . 1000 EGP for the AEC for coding cultivated areas less than 10 feddans . 500 EGP for the Agricultural Quarantine for every code . 30 EGP for Horticultural department per feddan

This assistance was given on a cost share basis, between the FAS project and farmers. Samples were taken from these farms by the Agricultural Quarantine representative to measure pesticides residues.

During the reporting period, the FAS project supported 201 coding requests sent by 1,160 pomegranate farmers to be checked and certified by the Agriculture Quarantine, Agricultural Export Council & Horticulture Department in the Ministry of Agriculture. Some farmers applied as individuals; some farmers, sharing contiguous borders, similar crops and growing methodologies, applied jointly for Coding. As of the end of the quarter, 664 individual farms had passed inspection and received a Code.

Component 4: Improved Nutritional Status for Women and Children

Activity 4.1: Targeted ICT nutrition messaging 2,550 households and smallholder farmers received FAS nutrition messages aiming to create awareness about adopting good practices in the selection of food and food preparation during the reporting period.

Activity 4.2: Community Nutrition Mobilizers During the reporting period 1,197 women and 38 men from Sohag, Assiut, Minya and Beni-Suef governorates received a series of interactive trainings on healthy foods. The nutrition trainings aimed to increase awareness on the importance of healthy diets to reduce malnutrition, especially targeted at vulnerable groups (pregnant, lactating women, child from +6 month to 6 years). The trainings focused on good practices during food preparation and cooking Fig-31: Households in Assiut receiving FAS to improve nutritional diversity from locally available nutrition training food, and handwashing techniques. (fig-31)

To deliver the nutrition messages to households across the seven governorates, the FAS project met with senior rural health leaders in the directorate of Health Affairs in Qena and Aswan to discuss the possibility of working with rural health leaders to deliver nutrition training to households, but it is not likely the FAS project will continue with this approach as it would be complicated and expensive to deliver for the team. However, opinions and priorities from those groups have been taken into account and are reflected in ongoing nutrition messaging.

The project developed nutrition messages that will be printed on posters and used for training households in the final year of the project. Nutrition messages cover the importance of key food groups, five keys to food safety, nutrition for pregnant and lactating women, malnutrition resulting from lack of vitamins, simple ways to tackle vitamin deficiency, and handwashing. For more details, please see Annex 12: Participants Receiving Nutrition Messaging, broken down by association and location.

Activity 4.3: Nutrition messaging targeted at women in agro-processing To raise awareness on the importance of a healthy diet during different stages of life, the FAS project delivered nutrition messages to 34 young women who were participants at the female entrepreneurship agribusiness training in Minya. Nutrition messaging focused on the role of home gardens such as roof cultivation to produce healthy, nutritionally diverse food for the family, food processing best practices, appropriate water sources for cooking, salt and iodine contamination, and handwashing techniques. Fig-32: Nutrition messages delivered to female (fig-32) entrepreneurs in Minya

Investment Grants

During the reporting period, FAS made good progress in supporting the development of grantee business plans and procurement under grants Summary progress under each award in the period is shown below.

Stars of Export: The purpose of this in-kind grant is for FAS project to help the Stars of Export company to renovate, expand, and upgrade their collection, sorting, packaging, and cooling facility in Beni Suef. Stars of Export already sources much of its product from small growers; as a result of this expansion work, it is expected that Stars of Export’s demand for products from smallholder farmers will substantially increase, opening new market channels for farmers.

On the FAS project side, the status of equipment procurement, delivery and installation is: - Procured, delivered, installed: generator (500 KVA), 5 hand pallets, automatic dryer, IT hardware, and traceability software. - Pending installation: cold storage units, pre-cooling and refrigerator doors have all been delivered in full. Installation is scheduled to take place after the grantee has completed construction and civil works, due to be complete at the end of October. - Pending delivery: hydraulic equipment has been procured and is scheduled to be delivered to Stars of Export in early November. - In procurement: 2 Mercedes vehicles (ARCOS 4048) for use as refrigerated transport have been contracted for, and terms of delivery for a ride-on scrubber are under review.

Al Baiahoo Association: Alongside successful work that the FAS project has done together to link the Al Baiahoo Association with new markets, most notably Carrefour supermarket chain, the FAS project has also awarded the association a grant. The association owns a packhouse and, particularly with the new demands made of it through these new contracts, the purpose of the in-kind grant is to upgrade the capacity of pre-cooling and cold storage facilities at that packhouse from 10 ton/day to 40 ton/day. On the FAS project side, the status of equipment procurement, delivery and installation is: • Pre-cooling rooms: delivered and installed. • Cold storage rooms: equipment delivered, installation to be completed by end of October. • Traceability software, security and monitoring system: contracted and under supply.

Lotus Company: The purpose of this in-kind grant is to establish a new herb processing facility that will provide collection, sorting, drying, and packaging facility services for around 1,000 smallholder farmers. During the reporting period, the FAS project selected a specification- appropriate production line and shared that offer with Lotus Company management for their review and feedback. Terms and conditions of that new offer are still under review.

El Esra Association in Assiut: The purpose of the in-kind grant awarded to El Esra Association is to enable the association to establish a completely new integrated drying, processing and packaging center that can meet export market sanitation and quality requirements. The grant is a challenging one to implement because the association has no prior experience working in this sector and has had to establish and construct all infrastructure and management systems required

for delivery of this business plan. Subsequent to the award, numerous technical conversations have taken place on issues such as selection of end-market, purity requirements, and the relative merits of multi-use versus single purpose machinery. A decision has now been made between the FAS project and grantee on these questions. The equipment is on schedule to be completed installed and commissioned by end of January 2020.

EIAT Company: The purpose of the in-kind grant award to EIAT Company is to enable them to expand their tomato drying operations by establishing a sun-dried tomato processing facility in Luxor. This will both raise demand for tomatoes from among local smallholder growers and will also create new employment opportunities for local women to work at the facility. After re-issuing a solicitation, the FAS project has received two offers for equipment to be procured and provided in-kind through the grant. Equipment samples have been received from both suppliers and shared with the grantee. It is expected that a purchase order will be issued to the successful vendor by the end of October 2019.

Cross-Cutting Activities Monitoring and Evaluation During the reporting period, the FAS project introduced significant improvements to the new cloud-based Concept Note (Knack) project planning and M&E system that was rolled out in January 2019. The improvements were made to address all issues identified by system users during the previous two quarters and are intended to make the system simpler to use. Customized modifications also responded to project reporting requirements, including the need to easily obtain specific output indicator data.

In addition to this, the system is now able to provide management with the data required to properly support the results-based decision making that is necessary for a functional adaptive management system. The improved database is more user-friendly. It is now simpler to use and promotes even faster and more transparent exchange of data between functional groups within the project team. A video explaining and illustrating all the Knack updates was made and shared with all team members.

Training sessions were held for the benefit of all project team members to ensure that all are clear on both their reporting responsibilities and how to carry out those responsibilities using the Knack system. These training events gave all technical team members practical training on efficient and proper use of the system.

During the reporting period the FAS project updated its MEL Plan, which is now pending USAID approval. In concert with this, the FAS project also revised its Field Guide Manual for FAS Monitoring & Evaluation. The field manual is designed to accompany the approved FAS MEL Plan. It provides a detailed explanation of the FAS MEL System including roles and responsibilities, and documentation of standardized procedures for data collection for each performance indicator. This guide reflects the actual processes and procedures used by the FAS Team, and therefore is updated regularly. The primary audience for this Field Guide Manual is FAS Staff and Partners, as an educational tool to understand the FAs MEL System, and as a reference guide for those individuals participating in data collection. A secondary audience includes users of FAS performance data, such as USAID, to provide them with a comprehensive view of the MEL System from which performance data is produced.

During the reporting period the FAS project completed a Seasonal Outcome Study in order to calculate outcome indicator achievements. An extensive and detailed quantitative survey instrument was used to collect the information. The instrument is specifically designed to address FAS reporting requirements as well as to inform project learning. The survey was administered across all project governorates. A sample of 19 producer organizations were selected and 954 farmers participated in the questionnaire. The data collected focused on background characteristics; on-farm production practices; farm production costs; post-harvest practices and technologies; FAS supported crop yields; market linkages; and farmer income and impacts.

During the reporting period the M&E team checked all participant data in the Knack system for completeness and, to confirm confidence in the data, also checked a random sample for

accuracy. For more details, please see Annex 16: Monitoring and Evaluation Activity Progress During the Quarter.

Gender 16 female participants from El Ber and El Rahma Association and fourteen women entrepreneurs from El Gamalia community development association in Luxor participated in FAS training on surface cultivation and entrepreneurship principles. The four-day training Fig-33: 14 women from El Gamalia community development association in focused on the use of rooftops Luxor practicing surface cultivation and limited yard space for agriculture, systems that can be used in agriculture to provide nutritious and inexpensive food for the family and developing business plans for entrepreneurial ideas that women have to increase their family incomes. (fig-33) The project also conducted Female Entrepreneurship training at the National Council for Women in Minya for 24 women representing the Women Leaders Association, the Businesswomen Association, and the Arab Women Association. A representative from the Development Agency for Small, Medium and Small Enterprises Fig-34: 24 women representing the Women Leaders Association, the (MSMEDA) participated and Businesswomen association, and the Arab Women Association in Minya talked about funding learned about entrepreneurial funding opportunities. opportunities for female entrepreneurs. A similar training was conducted for 34 women representing Al Huda, Shabab Al Rouby and Al Geel Al Gadeed associations in Minya. (fig-34). For more details, please see Annex 15: Female entrepreneurs participating in FAS workshops

Host Country Government engagement During the reporting period, FAS project participated in a series of four Extension Services Strategic Planning Workshops hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation at their premises in Cairo. The workshops looked as possibilities for revising the three main pillars of the strategy: extension services structure, private sector partnership, and overall strategic vision and mission. The FAS project used these opportunities to promote the work USAID is doing to support smallholder agriculture in Upper Egypt and also introduced the Farmer Service Center (FSC) concept to the Ministry as one example of how private sector entrepreneurs can collaborate with government to efficiently deliver effective extension services at the farm level. The FAS project also gave a dedicated presentation on the potential role for private sector actors in extension service delivery at the invitation of the Ministry at the Sahara Expo event in Cairo.

Donor Communications and Corporate Activities The FAS COP and CNFA HQ-based management team conducted a semi-annual review in early August. The semi-annual review was a facilitated discussion which covered the areas of: Program Implementation, Budget, Compliance/Risk, and Resources. It was intended to provide a structured benchmark of the project’s progress in delivering on-time and on-budget results. The review was an opportunity for CNFA HQ senior management to better understand the project’s risk profile – including compliance, financial, and reputational risk. It was an also an opportunity for the COP to share any concerns about the project and discuss resource and support needs. The discussion was fruitful and FAS has been working to address all discussion points that merited follow-up.

Coordination with other projects FAS continues to work in close collaboration with the Land O’ Lakes team to ensure work with the NFSA is properly coordinated across projects and donors. The ERAS project is also now working with NFSA; there was agreement from all parties to split that work geographically, with ERAS working with NFSA in Lower Egypt and FAS in Upper Egypt to avoid duplication of efforts. FAS project began working with the USAID funded Georgia Hazelnut Improvement Project (GHIP), implemented by CNFA, to organize an international study tour of Farm Service Centers (FSCs) previously established by CNFA. The objective of the visit will be for FAS’ current FSC grantees to visit successful FSCs in Georgia to learn about how they were established and to glean business ideas for scaling out FSCs in Upper Egypt. The FAS project and GHIP CNFA management team will continue collaborating into the next quarter to plan the study tour, which is expected to take place in FY20 Q1.

Implementation Challenges Technical challenges: The project faces difficulties in establishing productive working relations with farmers and associations due to the approaches carried out by other projects working in agricultural development. It is common practice for agricultural development projects to provide farmers cash allowances, as compensation for travel expenses or in lieu of a food break, to encourage their participation in project activities. FAS project has chosen not to provide these cash allowances in order to be certain that activities are demand-driven and of value to beneficiaries who elect to give up their own time, maybe also incur travel cost. This is then a valuable signal to project management: if beneficiaries choose not to attend an event or join an activity it may be of less perceived value to them; and that high participation rates are likely to be a consequence of a highly valued activity. This has helped the project to tailor its activities and makes it easier to identify which activities and team members are most in demand at the farm level. On the other hand, when farmers realize they can be financially incentivized to participate in trainings and technical assistance by engaging elsewhere, they can be hesitant to engage in FAS project activities. These circumstances push FAS to demonstrate its technical value to farmers in other ways, namely through the long-term benefits to their livelihoods that they can achieve by engaging with the FAS project. Contract enforcement in the Egyptian agriculture sector is weak, which makes it difficult to ensure fulfillment of contracts, and forward contracts in particular. This has a significant knock- on effect as it makes investment and borrowing decisions riskier and it reinforces short-term decision making over longer-term planning. Improved contract enforcement is beyond the scope of this project but would be very valuable to the sector.

It is difficult to obtain formal letters from private sector companies concerning their sales revenues, or even sales, accrued from farmers/associations with whom they were connected by the FAS project. FAS plays a facilitation and capacity building role in these processes and focuses especially on improving cooperatives’ and associations’ negotiation skills and organizing visits between buyers and sellers that eventually result in business contracts. The project has focused on building the capacity of cooperatives/associations and farmers, while giving only very limited assistance to private sector companies beyond assisting them in identifying potential new supply chain actors. This limits project leverage with those companies and makes it difficult to compel them to share financial and sales information with the project, making it more difficult to secure some information from them that would better inform the project of their progress and achievements.

As in previous periods, smallholder farmers have limited access to finance which makes it difficult for them to invest in high quality inputs. The project is resolving access to finance challenges. For instance, during the Nefertiti Input Supply Fair in Minya, FAS project supported discussions with Egyptian Agriculture Bank and Pico Company to discuss new financial products for farmers to buy high-quality grape seedlings on credit that can be repaid in installments. However, there is limited time remaining for the project to develop more comprehensive or revolutionary concepts in this area.

Activities Next Quarter Component 1: Improved On-Farm Productivity and Income for Small Farmers # Activities Date Location

1 Finalize the implementation plans Oct The seven governorates 2 Lead Farmer Identification Oct, Nov - The seven Dec governorates 3 Crop cycle training program development Oct, Nov Luxor –Qena – and Dec Sohag 4 Training program mobilization Oct Nov - The seven Dec governorates 5 Production training TOT for agronomists and lead Nov -Dec Luxor –Qena – farmers for target value chains Sohag + Minya 6 Training program implementation Oct Nov - Luxor –Qena – Dec Sohag 7 Scientific trips inside Egypt to learn about new technology Oct-Nov - The seven (F2F) Dec governorates 8 Promotion of innovative pest-control technologies Nov-Dec Luxor –Qena – Sohag 9 Strengthening input suppliers (additional technical Nov- Dec Sohag- Luxor assistance for Farm Service Centers 10 Green Bean Festival Dec Sohag 11 Continue technical assistance for small holder farmers in Oct to Dec Minya , Assiut and our target crops Beni Suef 12 Soil analysis for 900 new farmers Oct to Dec Minya , Assiut, Beni Suef and Aswan 13 Identify the needs for FSCs and farmers Oct and Minya, Assiut and Nov Beni Suef 14 Facilitate linkages between FAS farmers and FSCs Oct to Dec Minya, Assiut and Beni Suef 15 Promote Ph and EC Meters and train lead farmers on Nov and Minya, Assiut and how to use them Dec Beni Suef 16 Installation of new irrigation technology in FSC demo Nov and 5 FSC Demo farms plots and organize trips for farmers to demo plots. Dec

17 Create handbook for how to use natural alternatives to Oct to Dec All FAS locations resist insects, fungi and plant diseases, based on farmer and FSC experiences 18 Control of Red palm weevil (RPW) training & distribute Oct, Nov Aswan – Luxor – RPW device Qena 19 Training program for fennel farmers about processing the Nov, Dec Beni suef - Cairo crop, sampling for analysis, and crop delivery 20 Tomato TOT for lead farmers and agronomists Oct - Nov Beni Suef - Esna 21 Visit to Ideal & Modern farms for Farmer to Farmer Oct Luxor/New Valley training (date palm) 22 Visit to Ideal & Modern farms for Farmer to Farmer Oct, Nov, Sohag training (onion) Dec 23 IPM training for governmental officials at Cooperative Nov Aswan and district level 24 Prepare Mango Manual with mango consultant Oct - Nov 7 Governorates

Component 2: More Efficient Post-Harvest Processes

# Activities Date Location October, Follow up on establishing six collection 1 November and Sohag, Assuit and Qena centers December Organising festivals for green beans and October, Sohag and Aswan 2 date palm November and December Field visits and practical trainings for October, Assuit, Aswan and Beni 3 medical and aromatic plants November and Suef December October, 4 Preparation for Cold Chain Exhibition November and Cairo December October, 5 Coding for pomegranate farmers November and Assuit December Field visits and practical training for palm October, Luxor, Qena, Aswan 6 date farmers November and December Field visits and practical training for green October, Sohag, Beni Suef 7 beans farmers November and December

Field visits and practical training for onion October, Sohag, Beni Suef 8 farmers November and December

Component 3: Improved Marketing of Agricultural Crops and Products

# Activity Date Location 1 Participate and exhibit in the 5th palm dates November El Wadi El Gedid festival in El Wadi Elgedeed governorate 3 Participate and exhibit in Food Africa 2019 December Cairo Exhibition in Cairo 3 Conduct buyers-farmers meetings to October to Seven governorates facilitate contracts negotiations for onions, December fennel, and tomatoes 4 Conduct buyers-farmers meetings to October to Seven governorates facilitate finalization of contracts December 5 Send marketing-related SMS’s. October to Seven governorates December 6 Collect crops sales data October to Seven governorates December 7 Conduct 2nd round of Startups export December Cairo training 8 Follow up Elbiho supply of fruits and October to Minya vegetables to Carrefour. December 9 Preparing for FAS participation in Fruit October to Cairo Logistica 2020 December

Component 4: Improved Nutritional Status for Women and Children # Activities Date Location 1 Publish nutrition training materials October Luxor 2 Training of household women October – All 7 governorates December 3 Develop and disseminate nutrition SMS October – All 7 governorates messages content December 4 Dissemination of nutrition messaging October – All 7 governorates targeted to women in the agro-processing December workforce

Monitoring and Evaluation # Activities Date Location 1 Prepare for the upcoming DQA October Luxor 2 Cross check supporting document hard copies October Luxor with the M&E online database (Knack) 3 File all hard copies of the supporting October Luxor documents for all quarter four activities 4 Conduct follow-up training and coaching for November All three offices the field staff and the technical team 5 Conduct learning meetings with the field staff November All three offices 6 Enter all data for quarter one of FY20 October - All three offices December

Business Development Unit (Grants, Capacity Building, Local Government Engagements, and Gender) # Activities Date Location

1 Implementing the smallholder farmer business school October- Beni-Suef, initiative December Minia, Assuit and Sohag 2 Implementing the Cooperatives and Associations business October- All FAS project linkages initiative December governorates 3 Conduct RBM and Marketing workshop for Qena October Luxor cooperatives and Associations 4 Conduct female entrepreneurship training workshops in October- Minia, Luxor Minia and Beni-Suef December 5 Continue monitoring the procurement process for the October- All FAS project approved grant agreements December governorates 6 Study tour for FSC managers November- Georgia December 7 Financial management training for FSC managers October All FAS governorates 8 Provide technical support and coaching to selected October- Beni-Suef, cooperatives and associations December Minia, and Assuit

# Activities Date Location

9 Provide business advisory services to awarded grantees October- Beni-Suef, December Minia, and Assuit 10 Provide technical support in implementing the working October- Beni-Suef, women policy guidelines to the awarded grantees December Minia, and Assuit 11 Support and facilitate government engagement in project October- All Upper Egypt activities December governorates and Cairo 12 Support the project components’ leads and management in October- All Upper Egypt input suppliers fair, Coding, and other events December governorates and Cairo 13 Provide ongoing capacity building and technical support to October- All Upper Egypt FSC managers December governorates and Cairo 14 Conduct good governance workshops for all FAS October- All Upper Egypt Cooperatives and Associations December governorates and Cairo

Annex 1: Press release published on the pomegranate festival Released on 16 September, 2019 1000 pomegranate farmers in Assiut are able to code their pomegranate farms with the support of FAS Project which is funded by USAID Assiut - The Agricultural Department in Assiut, under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation and in cooperation with Feed the Future Food Security and Agribusiness Support (FAS) project funded by USAID, organized the pomegranate festival in Al Badary and Bosra districts in Assuit. This is to celebrate that 700 pomegranate farmers are now coded, while 300 farmers are on the process to become coded. These farmers will be able to export their production of pomegranate with the support of FAS project, which will result in improving the quality of their production and in succeeding to compete with the international products and penetrating the export market. Eng. Hoda Ismail, General Director of Agriculture in Assiut Directorate, participated in the festival on behalf of Engineer Ibrahim Sorour, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture in Assiut

The first collection center of pomegranates for the Youth Association for Development in Al Badary was inaugurated during the celebration. The collection center was established on a cost- share basis between the USAID-funded FAS project and the association. The collection center makes it possible for the association to supply pomegranates to a wide range of buyers. This enabled the export companies to load pomegranates from the collection center and export them in good condition and high quality due to the proper storage of pomegranates in the collection center.

"We aim to increase the incomes of smallholder farmers by building their capacity and providing them with technical support in agricultural operations and post-harvest processes," says Dominic Graham, COP FAS project. "We seek to increase incomes for farmers by helping them to access new markets and open export opportunities for farmers through linking them to the international market."

In May 2019, FAS project in cooperation with the Agriculture Export Council has sensitized farmers on the importance and requirements of coding, through organizing many awareness seminars for farmers. The project also opened new markets and linked farmers, under the umbrella of agricultural associations and cooperatives, to buyers and export markets, in order to motivate them to improve the quality of their products so that they can export their products to the international market

To maintain the quality of pomegranates and to reduce losses, FAS project trained farmers on good post harvest practices. The project provided farmers with a simply designed low-cost fabric bag, locally produced, which enabled farmers to collect pomegranates easily and to maintain the quality of pomegranates and reduce the percentage of losses as it prevents pomegranates from falling on the ground

In order to motivate farmers, the project handed certificates to the agricultural associations and some farmers who coded their farms with the support of FAS project.

The Feed the Future Egypt, Food Security and Agribusiness Support (FAS) project is a 5-year agriculture development program funded by USAID and implemented by CNFA. The program, which began in 2015, aims to increase incomes, enhance food security, and improve the nutritional status of smallholder farmers in Upper Egypt. FAS works in seven governorates in Upper Egypt, including Aswan, Luxor, Qena, Sohag, Assiut, Minya and Beni Suef. The project is market-driven and focuses on high value crops with export potential including horticulture, fruit, and herbs and spices.

Annex 2: Media monitoring for pomegranate festival

Rose Al Youssef, online newspaper, September 17, 2019 ‘A Festival for Pomegranate Farmers in Assiut for Obtaining the Export Code’ Reporter: Hassan Fathy

Assiut - The Agricultural Department in Assiut, in cooperation with Feed the Future Food Security and Agribusiness Support (FAS) project funded by USAID, organized the pomegranate festival in Al Badary and Bosra districts in Assuit. This is to celebrate that 700 pomegranate farmers are now coded. Participated in the festival Eng. Hoda Ismail, General Director of Agriculture in Assiut Directorate, and Dominic Graham, COP FAS project.

The festival included site visits to the pomegranate farms in Assuit, and the inauguration of the first collection center of pomegranates for the Youth Association for Development in Al Badary. The collection center was established on a cost-share basis between the USAID-funded FAS project and the association. The collection center makes it possible for the association to supply pomegranates to a wide range of buyers. This enabled the export companies to load pomegranates from the collection center and export them in good condition and high quality due to the proper storage of pomegranates in the collection center.

A seminar was held for farmers on the safe use of pesticides at Wataneya hotel. The project honored the agricultural associations and the lead farmers who participated in the pomegranate coding season for their efforts in helping farmers to become code-compliant.

Assiut - The Agricultural Department in Assiut, under the supervision of engineer Hoda Ismail, General Manager of Agriculture and under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation and in cooperation with Feed the Future Food Security and Agribusiness Support (FAS) project funded by USAID, organized the pomegranate festival in Al Badary and Bosra districts in Assuit. This is to celebrate that 700 pomegranate farmers are now coded, while 300 farmers are on the process to become coded. These farmers will be able to export their production of pomegranate with the support of FAS project, which will result in improving the quality of their production and in succeeding to compete with the international products and penetrating the export market. Eng. Hoda Ismail, General Director of Agriculture in Assiut Directorate, participated in the festival on behalf of Engineer Ibrahim Sorour, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture in Assiut

quality of pomegranates and reduce the percentage of losses as it prevents pomegranates from falling on the ground

In order to motivate farmers, the project handed certificates to the agricultural associations and some farmers who coded their farms with the support of FAS project.

Annex 3: Indicator Progress QTR 4, FY2019 July 1 – September 30, 2019)

Results FY2019 Cumulative for LOP Indicators Q4 Year Target Goal: Inclusive Agriculture Sector Growth Intermediate Result 1: Improved On-Farm Production Total: 13,513 EG.3-2 Number of individuals participating in USG food security programs 5,848 Male: 12,169 14,000 Female: 1,344 Annually reported Fennel: 2.95 indicator MT/hectare Green bean: 8.9 EG.3-10 Yield of targeted agricultural commodities among program participants MT/hectare 21.28 with USG assistance Onion: 42.07 MT/hectare Tomato: 87.94 MT/hectare Sub-IR 1.1: Enhanced Human and Institutional Capacity Development for Increased Sustainable Agriculture Sector Productivity EG.3.2-24 Number of individuals in the agricultural system who have applied Annually reported 887 9,600 improved management practices or technologies with USG assistance indicator

Number of individuals who have received USG-supported short-term agricultural Total: 10,569 4,668 10,000 sector productivity training Male: 10,376 Female: 193 Sub-IR 1.2 Enhanced Technology Development, Dissemination, Management, and Innovation EG.3.2-25 Number of hectares under improved management practices or Annually reported 5,782.76 7,075 technologies with USG assistance indicator Intermediate Result 3: Improved Marketing of Agricultural Crops and Products Annually reported EG.3.2-26 Value of annual sales of farms and firms receiving USG assistance US$ 28,406,125 6,425,046 indicator

Results FY2019 Cumulative for LOP Indicators Q4 Year Target Number of contracts between smallholder farmers (or farm groups) and market Annually reported 1,150 channels indicator 482 Sub-IR 2.1 Enhanced Agricultural Trade Goal: Improved Nutritional Status (Women & Children) Intermediate Result 8: Improved Use of Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition Services

Number of people trained in nutrition through USG-supported programs 1,188 2,868 3,429

Annex 4: Table of New Farmers’ Cooperatives/Association Who Signed MOUs

Governorate District Association/Cooperative

Esna District Family Development association in Armant Al Heit

Luxor Islamic Charity Peace association in New Karnak District Luxor Esna District Together for Development in Asfoun, Esna

Esna District Future Manufacturers for development in Al Nogoa in Esna Sohag Edfa Agriculture Cooperative District Sohag El-Mraga El-Shoraneya Agriculture Cooperative District

Samalot Qlosna Agriculture Cooperative Minya District

Grand Total 7 Cooperative / Associations

Annex 5: Institutional capacity building and female entrepreneurship workshops conducted during the reporting period.

Type of the training Number of Total Total Total participated number of number of Participants Cooperatives/ Male Female Associations participants participants Result Based Management 26 49 16 65 Marketing Strategy 26 47 16 63 Financial Management 14 111 2 113 Farmer Services Center 8 companies 16 0 16 Management Female entrepreneurship 8 0 88 88 Farm Business School 12 285 7 292 Total 60 508 129 637

Annex 6: Farmers’ Cooperatives/Associations Assessed by FAS

Governorate District Association/Cooperative Esna District Family Development association in Armant Al Heit Luxor District Islamic Charity Peace association in New Karnak Luxor Esna District Together for Development in Asfoun, Esna Esna District Future Manufacturers for development in Al Nogoa in Esna Sohag Edfa Agriculture Cooperative District Sohag El-Mraga El-Shoraneya Agriculture Cooperative District Samalot Qlosna Agriculture Cooperative Minia District Grand Total 7 Cooperatives/ Associations

Annex 7: Training Activities on Agriculture Best Practices by Product and Governorate

Governorate Beni Minya Assiut Sohag Qena Luxor Aswan Total Suef Grapes 155 338 493 Pomegranate 779 69 848 Tomato 223 118 32 373 Mangoes 310 498 1317 1166 3291 Date Palm 5 368 119 451 943 Basil 474 45 207 95 821 Thyme 206 206 Onion 11 49 149 15 2 226 Henna Green beans 62 395 457 Pepper 77 569 9 655 Okra 20 24 44 Coriander Marjoram 21 21 Fennel Anise 11 11 Parsley Total 945 670 986 1147 1450 1479 1712 8389

Annex 8: Distribution of Forward Contracts by Association, Value Chain, Number of Feddans and Farmers

Value Association/Group No. No. Company Gov District Village Chain Farmers Feddans

Green Beans Group farmers - Dar EL Naga Al Sohag Naga Al Karnak - 20 Salam Karnak 1 Dar AL Slam Green Beans Awlad Group farmers Dar EL Sohag Yahia Awlad Yahia Kebly- 20 Salam 2 NIVEX Kebly Dar AL Slam

FARMS Green Beans Group farmers Naga Dar EL Naga Al Sohag Al Ezba - Dar AL 20 Salam Ezba 3 Slam Green Beans Group farmers Dar EL Sohag Awlad Khlf Awlad Khlf - Dar 30 Salam 4 AL Slam Green Beans Group farmers Naga Dar EL Naga Al Sohag Al Ezba - Dar AL 20 Salam Ezba 5 Slam BIOAGRI Green Beans Group farmers Dar EL Sohag Awlad Khlf Awlad Khlf - Dar AL 20 Salam 6 Slam Green Beans Community Development and Al Gazert Al Sohag Agricultural Services 30 Maraghah Shorania Association in - 7 Gazert Al Shorania Green Beans Al Gazert Al Group farmers Nouranto For Sohag 35 Maraghah Shorania Gazert Al Shorania 8 Trade And Green Beans Agricultural Export Al Gazert Al Cooperative Sohag 25 Maraghah Shorania Association -Gazert 9 Al Shorania Green Beans Group farmers Naga Dar EL Naga Al Sohag Al Ezba - Dar AL 35 Salam Ezba 10 Slam Green Beans Group farmers Dar EL Ngoaa Sohag Ngoaa Mazen - Dar 30 Salam Mazen 11 Agrina Imoprt AL Slam & Export Green Beans Group farmers - Dar EL Mazata Sohag Mazata Sark - Dar 30 Salam Sark 12 AL Slam

Value Association/Group No. No. Company Gov District Village Chain Farmers Feddans

Group farmers - Dar EL Naga Green Beans Sohag Naga Kasem - Dar 30 Salam Kasem 13 AL Slam Agricultural Dar EL Ngoaa Green Beans Sohag Cooperative in - 25 Salam Mazen 14 Ngoaa Mazen Agricultural Helwan Dar EL Ngoaa Cooperative Green Beans Sohag 200 Export Salam Mazen Association in - 15 Ngoaa Mazen Agricultural Green Beans Dar EL Ngoaa Cooperative Cropex Sohag 25 Salam Mazen Association in - 16 Ngoaa Mazen Group farmers Naga Dar EL Naga Al Green Beans Sohag Al Ezba - Dar AL 25 Salam Ezba 17 Slam Raya Foods Agricultural Dar EL Ngoaa Green Beans Sohag Cooperative in - 50 Salam Mazen 18 Ngoaa Mazen Green Beans Dar EL Bany Group farmers Bany Green Egypt Sohag 65 19 Salam Khaled Khaled - Agricultural Dar EL Ngoaa AGROSUN Green Beans Sohag Cooperative in - 35 Salam Mazen 20 Ngoaa Mazen Agricultural Jana For Dar EL Ngoaa Green Beans Sohag Cooperative in - 20 agriculture Salam Mazen 21 Ngoaa Mazen EL NADA FOR Group farmers Dar EL EXPORTING Green Beans Sohag Awlad Khlf Awlad Khlf - Dar 30 Salam & AL Slam 22 SUPPLYING EGYPTIAN Agricultural Dar EL Ngoaa CO.For Green Beans Sohag Cooperative in - 20 Salam Mazen 23 EXP.& IMP. Ngoaa Mazen Agricultural Dar EL Ngoaa Green Beans Sohag Cooperative in - 20 Salam Mazen 24 Ngoaa Mazen Agro Care Youth Association Pomegranate Asyut Al Badary Al Badary for Improvement and 100 25 Development

Value Association/Group No. No. Company Gov District Village Chain Farmers Feddans

Youth Association Jana Pomegranate Asyut Al Badary Al Badary for Improvement and 120 Development 26 Youth Association Moon red Pomegranate Asyut Al Badary Al Badary for Improvement and 100 Development 27 Youth Association Trade lanes Pomegranate Asyut Al Badary Al Badary for Improvement and 75 Development 28 ElDeeb collection Green Land Pomegranate Asyut Al Badary Al Badary 50 29 center group farmers

Annex 9: List of Exporters and Processors Visited and Status of Contracts

Value Visited Type Exports to Current Chain Companies situation AGRO CARE For Import & Exporter Europe 1 contract signed Export JANA For Pomegranate Exporter Europe/Arab 1 contract signed Agriculture Moon Red Exporter Arab 1 contract signed Trade Lanes Exporter Arab 1 contract signed Exporter 4 contracts Nivex Europe signed Exporter 2 contracts Bio Agri Europe signed Exporter 4 contracts Nouronto Europe signed Exporter 4 contracts Agrina Europe signed Helwan Exporter Europe 1 contract signed Cropex Exporter Europe 1 contract signed Green Beans Raya Exporter Europe 1 contract signed Exporter Europe 1 contract signed Green Egypt AgroSun Exporter Europe 1 contract signed Jana Exporter Europe 1 contract signed Nada Exporter Europe 1 contract signed EGYPTIAN Exporter CO.For EXP.& Europe 1 contract signed IMP Agrocare Exporter Europe 1 contract signed

Annex 10: Number of Visits Between End-Buyers and Associations

No of company Number of No. of Buyers Value Chain visits to associations Governorate visits farmer visited associations 5 Pomegranate 8 1 Assiut 15 Green Beans 7 1 Sohag 3 Thyme 11 1 Minya Minya and 2 Basil 17 6 Assiut

Annex 11: Cumulative Onion Sales

Q3 Sales data Contracted Association Gov. companies

Quantity Average Price Revenue EGP/ton In Tons EGP

Agriculture community Al Pharoneia development Sohag 829.95 4,500 3,734,775 Bioherbs association in Beit Khalaf

Total 829.95 3,734,775

Annex 12: Participants Receiving Nutrition Messages by Association, District & Village

Number of participants who received messages Date Name of Associations District Village Women Men Total Sohag

Jul 10, Results Based Management and Marketing workshop (14 Sohag - 8 26 34 2019 associations) Total participants 8 26 34 Assiut

Aug 4, Agricultural Community Manfalut Nazet Krar 111 4 115 2019 Development Association in Nazet Qrar Total 111 4 115 Minya

Aug 5, Beny Future Generation Egypt Minya Ahmed 81 2 83 2019 Development Association Eastern Sept 8, Baladi Foundation for Dawar Minya 103 103. 2019 Community Development. schroawy Sept 9, Association of Agricultural Al – Smallout 125 125 2019 Community Development Omdain- Sept 10, Beni 112 112 2019 Nahadt Misr for Minya Mohamed Sept 11, Comprehansive Development Saltan 50 50 2019 Sept 11, Baladi Foundation for Dawar Minya 70 70 2019 Community Development. schroawy Total 541 2 543 Beni Suef Aug 6 , 70 70 2019 Association of Al-Nahda for Integrated Development in Al- Ahnasia Al Newera Aug 7, Newera 58 58 2019

Number of participants who received messages Date Name of Associations District Village Women Men Total

Sept 15, Association for Agricultural 70 2019 Community Development in Beba Taha Albisha 70 Tahha El Besha Sept 16, Eastern Local community development Beba 97 4 101 2019 association Ghiyada Sept 16, Charitable Association in Ahnasia Shawish 130 1 131 2019 Shawish

Sept17, Association of Development Ahnasia Mianh 41 1 42 2019 and Marketing Horticultural Crops Sept 18, Future youth association for Ahnasia Elmseed 71 - 71 2019 community development Total 537 6 543

Total participants 1197 38 1235

Annex 13: List of Participants by Association and Location

Number of participants who received messages Date Name of Associations District Village Women Men Total (Female Entrepreneurship Training) Luxor and Minya Al Bar and Al Rahma associations Albyadya Albyadya 10 10 Jul 2, in Luxor governorate 2019 Elropy Youth for Community Samalot El Roby 24 24 Jul10, Development 2019

Total participants 34 - 34

Annex 14: List of Farmer Service Center representatives in Sahara Fair

# Company Participant Name Origin 1 Al Kheir and Al Baraka company Alaa Ibrahim Qena 2 Silver Moon company Ahmed Hashem Isna 3 Abnaa Al Sherif Sameh Hamdy Asyut 4 Al-Firdaws for Agricultural Services Hany Gamal Minya Gezeret Al Arab – Modern irrigation requirements 5 Taher Rashad Ewis Beni Suef and fertilizers Al Pharaena for Agricultural waste recycling and 6 Mohamed Darwish Minya organic fertilizer production Al-Modather Company for Agricultural Mohamed Ahmed 7 Aswan Development (ADM) Mohamed Khodary

Annex 15: Female Entrepreneurs Participating in FAS Workshops Governorate Date Participating cooperatives and Number of associations participants Aswan Jun 9-13 Selwa, Redisia, EL wadi E akhdar 29 women and Qanadla Luxor Apr 21-24 El Shrouk, El Ber w El Rahma, 28 women Mataana, El Nesaeea and Nagea El Dar

Annex 16: Monitoring and Evaluation Activity Progress During the Quarter # Activities Date Location 1 Complete outcome survey analysis and report July-September Luxor 2 Continue improvement of the cloud-based August Luxor Knack database system in response to the identified issues during the previous quarters and reporting requirements. 4 Migrated all the data entered into the updated August Luxor version of the system after making all the customized modifications. 5 Continued training and coaching for the M&E August/September All three offices team on use of the updated database 6 Data entry for Quarter 4 activities. August – All three offices September and continued in October 7 Updated the MEL plan and submitted to USAID August – HQ and Luxor Office for approval (in October) September 8 Updated the M&E Field Guide manual August – HQ and Luxor Office September