COVID-19 and Russia’s war on Ukraine have severely disrupted global agricultural markets leading to severe food insecurity implications. The impact of these events demonstrates the importance of building the resilience of smallholder farming households and the market and food systems of which they are a part. Resilient households and local market systems can quickly adjust…
Chemonics International has named Garron Hansen as senior vice president of the company’s West and Central Africa and Haiti business unit. Mr. Hansen brings 20 years of international experience, including 15 years implementing donor- and U.S. government-funded programs in Africa and Haiti. In his new role, Mr. Hansen will oversee and develop the business strategy,…
Driven by technological advances in soil management, improved seed quality, and modern farming practices, Brazil experienced an agricultural revolution over the past few decades that has transformed the country’s economy, society, and outlook. Brazil’s Cerrado biome, where the rich farmlands of the Matopiba region are located, illustrate, both the benefits and challenges of this transformation.…
Since the end of its civil war, Lebanon has shown incredible resilience through recent events such as the Arab Spring and the Syrian armed conflict, which resulted in an influx of refugees and significant shifts in agricultural trading. The ongoing impact of the Beirut blast and the pandemic have only furthered the country’s extreme political…
Deforestation and the conversion of native vegetation linked to the soy supply chain are serious environmental concerns to key biomes in South America and obstacles to achieving sustainability in the agricultural sector. The Land Innovation Fund for Sustainable Livelihoods, established with an initial contribution from Cargill, is managed by Chemonics. The fund supports innovations that…
The Kyrgyz Republic accounts for 6.3 million people, with a slow-growing, agriculture-led economy. Although economic growth is steady, employment opportunities have lagged. This has forced many people to leave so that they can seek income-generating opportunities elsewhere, which has created economic and social obstacles to peaceful and prosperous living. The central government has historically neglected…
Uzbekistan’s agriculture sector has embraced diversification, unlocking new markets for its goods. But challenges to stronger agricultural market systems remain, including inconsistency in post-production, a lack of participation by women and youth, and limited educational and policy reforms. The USAID Agribusiness Development Activity tackles these challenges to boost private sector-led growth in Uzbekistan’s agriculture sector.…
Access to financial services enables rural households to build financial security, start enterprises, and insure against risks. This access, in turn, generates secondary benefits, improving resilience, health, nutrition, and broad-based economic growth. In 2015, USAID launched the Rural Finance Initiative (RFI), implemented by Chemonics International, to provide technical assistance to financial institutions in Colombia so that they could identify profitable opportunities…
Rapid urbanization in developing countries is shifting demand for agricultural goods. Meanwhile, the digitization of value chains is generating more transparent information on the pricing and movement of goods. These changes within food systems open windows of opportunity for agripreneurship — that is, entrepreneurship in the agriculture sector — both on the farm and beyond…
We’d like you to meet Robert Anyang! Robert is an agricultural value chain improvement and marketing expert. With extensive experience advancing public-private partnerships, incubating youth-owned businesses, and expanding farmers’ access to markets, Robert shares how he was destined for his current career. Robert is one reason #DevelopmentWorksHere. 1. Can you tell us about your journey…
Carlos Morales has over 20 years of experience implementing USAID and other donor funded projects in Latin America. He worked for over than ten years in the Guatemalan food industry, developing an exhaustive understanding of the vegetables value chain and strong relationships with producers, suppliers, and international customers. Carlos worked with the World Wildlife Fund…