The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded CNFA a contract, valued at $19.5 million, to implement the Restoring Efficiency to Agriculture Production (REAP) in Georgia from September 2013 through September 2018.  The REAP project will increase employment and income in rural areas by delivering firm-level investment and technical assistance to expand the operation of existing smallholder farmers and rural enterprises.  The project will facilitate the entry of new agribusinesses and input suppliers, including machinery service providers, storage facilities, sorting/grading centers, and small and medium scale processors to improve the availability of high-quality inputs and services, and strengthen markets for agricultural goods and services in Georgia.

“Over the past seven years, CNFA has worked with USAID on four previous projects in Georgia,” CNFA President and Chief Executive Officer John H. Costello said.  “Through these USAID-funded programs, we have been able to build a network of machinery service centers, connect smallholder farmers to new markets, help internally displaced persons improve their livelihoods and assist Georgian entrepreneurs access appropriate and affordable financing.  USAID’s market-oriented approach to helping Georgia improve its economy has already shown tremendous success and we are thrilled to continue working with USAID to help strengthen the country’s agricultural sector.”  

Restoring Efficiency to Agriculture Production will catalyze increased private investment and commercial finance to the agricultural sector, mitigate risk for rural SMEs and entrepreneurs, and expand commercially sustainable linkages between input suppliers, producers, and post-harvest service providers.  Additionally, the program will provide technical assistance to granteenon-grantee farmers, primary production businesses, rural SMEs, cooperatives, and associations, and generate new rural jobs.

CNFA, based in Washington, D.C., stimulates economic growth and improves rural livelihoods by empowering the private sector.  CNFA’s unique approach is founded on six core capacities: 1) commercial input supply and farm services; 2) economic resilience and rapid recovery; 3) agricultural productivity, food security and nutrition; 4) value chain development; 5) volunteer technical assistance and 6) access to finance. CNFA has worked in over 38 countries worldwide and impacted the lives of more than 70 million people.  For more information, visit www.cnfa.org.