New Value Chain Project to Boost Farmers’ Incomes, Food Security in Philippines |
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Chief of Party Nic Richards speaking at CoCoPal project's launch. More than 200 industry leaders, nongovernmental partners and local government officials attended the event in Davao City. |
ACDI/VOCA's new $5.4 million, USDA-funded project aims to increase the incomes and food security of 25,000 farmers in the Philippines by harnessing local value chains to increase opportunities and sustainability in growing high-value crops like cocoa, coconuts and rice.
"The current cacao industry is a great opportunity for smallholder farmers to increase their incomes," says Chief of Party Nic Richards.
"By lessening risk by growing other high-value crops and learning new skills, farmers in Mindanao will be better able to earn more money and have improved food security for their families."
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 Our Haiti staff have supported much-needed relief efforts in Haiti since the January earthquake while continuing their original economic development work. Since the Jan. 12 earthquake (through March 31), ACDI/VOCA has reached 147,923 people with USAID emergency food aid. In addition, ACDI/VOCA has distributed seeds for beans, corn, peas, sorghum and manioc to 3,117 farmers in the Southeast Department.
We also are very close to meeting our Haiti fundraising goal of $100,000! Just $12,000 more is needed to fully fund the REACH project, which will distribute small grants to local organizations toward providing job training and creating new jobs in the Southeast Department. The program expects to start June 15. Donate today!
Thank you to the many people who have so generously supported our work in Haiti!
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ACDI/VOCA Celebrates National Volunteer Week
Our international volunteers are proven professionals who volunteer their time to travel overseas and share their expertise and skills with the many women and men who build local businesses, rural economies and regional trade in developing countries worldwide. To celebrate National Volunteer week, we shared an ACDI/VOCA volunteer story each day to highlight the many ways volunteers strengthen our international development work.
DAY 1: Volunteer Judith Freeman Shares Strategic, Sustainable Flower Practices in Bolivia
DAY 2: Volunteers Jerry Nolte & Dr. Roger Ellis Build Collective Action, Livestock Health
DAY 3: Two Mars Volunteers Help 'Volta Red' Rice in Ghana Reach Global Grocers
DAY 4: Volunteers Damon Szymanski & Dr. Alecsandro Dos Santos Mix Proven & New
DAY 5: ACDI/VOCA Volunteers Specialize in Youth Development Work & Financial Services Tool
Learn more about our Volunteer Program.
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Volunteer Completes 'Greenest Gift' Work in Kenya
 ‘Greenest Gift’ volunteer David Adams recently traveled to Kenya to help install the donated greenhouse and drip irrigation with the Kipchamo Poverty Eradication Program (KIPEP) members. Adams conducted several training sessions for the farmers on greenhouse operations, management, planting and maintenance of the vegetables. Follow the progress on our website: www.acdivoca.org/greenhousegift
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Werqu Mekasha, ACDI/VOCA Receive U.S. Co-ops' Highest Honor
 The late Ato Werqu Mekasha of Ethiopia and ACDI/VOCA were honored with the U.S. cooperative community's highest tribute: induction into the U.S. Cooperative Hall of Fame. Werqu, who died last year, received the award posthumously for his lifelong commitment to using cooperative business methods to better the lives of his fellow Ethiopians, especially small farmers. He is perhaps best known for his work for ACDI/VOCA with Ethiopian coffee cooperatives like Sidamo and Yergacheffe, whose coffee beans now are traded worldwide and known for their high quality. Mekasha's widow Yemisratch (Yemi) Demmelash traveled from Ethiopia to Washington, D.C., to accept the award on his behalf. More.
Other Recent Honors:
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Trade Show in Lebanon Stresses Strategic U.S. Market Links
U.S. food companies and restaurants in Lebanon recently gathered at the "City Mall" north of Beirut for the first annual "Taste of America" exhibition, which brought together local businesses and international business leaders to discuss food industry issues such as food safety and quality control toward improving Lebanon’s competitiveness in international markets. ACDI/VOCA's Steve Orr, managing director of our Lebanon Business Linkages Initiative, and Celine Melki, director of the Lebanon Agriculture Product Quality Control and Certification Program, shared information about our USAID-funded programs to improve the competitiveness of the agribusiness and tourism sectors in Lebanon. More.
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ACDI/VOCA Helps Colombian Coffee Farmers Make Commercial Connections
 Connecting smallholder coffee farmers to global markets puts more money right where it’s needed: the growers' pockets. ACDI/VOCA’s USAID Specialty Coffee Program in Colombia connects smallholder farmers' groups with important commercial players to elevate their bargaining position on the coffee value chain. ACDI/VOCA-Colombia staff traveled to the 22nd Annual Specialty Coffee Association of America Expo held in Anaheim, Calif., with beneficiary coffee farmers and program partners. During the event, ACDI/VOCA-supported farmers, who won the first and second prize in the USAID Best Alternative Coffee competition, received the official checks reflecting the premium prices given by the National Coffee Growers. The expo was a key event for ACDI/VOCA staff for promoting the Colombian Specialty Association and pursuing new commercial opportunities for our beneficiaries.
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