QUARTERLY REPORT

FEED THE FUTURE

ASIA INNOVATIVE FARMERS ACTIVITY
YEAR 3 QUARTER 2 (January 1 - March 31, 2018)
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 3

CHAPTER 1 BRINGING INNOVATIONS TO

SMALLHOLDER FARMERS

Component 1: TECH4FARMERS Challenge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

CHAPTER 2 STRENGTHENING THE REGIONAL

ENABLING ENVIRONMENT

Component 2: Regional Agriculture

Innovation Ecosystem Development. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Component 3: Regional Agricultural Technology

Policy Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Component 4: Technology Transfer to Support

USAID Bilateral Mission-Oriented Interventions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Management and Administration 15

Partner Analysis 15

Integration of STIP, Gender, and Youth 15

Environmental Compliance 15

Annex 1: Target and Actuals by Performance Indicators 16

2
 INTRODUCTION

This report covers the Feed the Future Asia Innovative Farmers Activity (‘project’) for Year 3
Quarter 2 activities implemented between January 1, 2018 and March 31, 2018.

The project is a regional activity transforming the lives of farmers by sourcing, validating, and
bringing to market the innovations that will increase income and food security in South and
Southeast Asia with a focus on Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Nepal.

This quarter has been focused on the second stage, validation, for nine technologies. Eight of
these technologies were sourced in the Tech4Farmers Challenge 2.0. One innovation, auto-
mated feeders from eFishery, from the Tech4Farmers Challenge 1.0 had already undergone
technical validation. Based on this feedback, the innovator has upgraded their technology and
will participate in a second validation review of their technology.

Validation includes both a rigorous technical review, led by Kasetsart University, and a
market review conducted by private sector firms. The project has been working with three
consulting firms – EDGE, M-CRIL, and Unlock – to determine the best support that can be
provided to these technologies in the third stage of marketing.

The project continues to work with our innovation hubs to promote innovations.

The project has also signed two agreements with private sector associations this quarter. A
significant component of the project includes USG bilateral buy-in for innovation activities.
As none of the bilateral missions so far have indicated a desire or ability to provide funds,
the project has engaged directly with projects to link innovations to activities. In addition,
the project has begun connecting innovators directly with other investors to support
dissemination of technologies.

The project remains hopeful for additional obligations as current obligations only fund 36%
of the total budget. However, a revised workplan was submitted and approved this quarter
to move forward with the current funding levels. This workplan includes activities to sustain
USAID’s innovation investments through a standalone entity. Winrock International conduct-
ed a field visit to Thailand and Nepal for members of the Board of Directors to see the
project firsthand and to begin the development of the standalone entity. Below, please find
our highlights for the second quarter.

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 Chapter 1 Bringing Innovations to Smallholder Farmers
COMPONENT 1:
TECH4FARMERS
CHALLENGE

Within this component, the project sources, validates,

and brings to market innovations. The project has
sourced 13 innovations to date. In this quarter, the
project facilitated cross-border transfer of technologies
already sourced and validated from Tech4Farmers AMAR DESH AMAR GRAM
Challenge 1.0. For innovations sourced in Tech4Farm-
ers Challenge 2.0, the project completed technical and ADAG is a virtual store (or eSHOP portal) that
market validation for these innovations. The project sources products from producers in Bangladesh’s
engaged three private sector firms to assist in the countryside and makes them available in national and
commercial review and market validation of these international markets. Through the ADAG eSHOP, the
innovations. producers do not have to rely on middlemen for
distributing their products. EDGE consulting conducted
the market validation and was able to confirm that
ADAG has surpassed 1000 orders per week in Bangla-
Private sector firms engaged in desh.
market validation
1000

The project has collaborated with three private sector
firms – EDGE, M-CRIL, and Unlock to conduct a
commercial validation of technologies sourced through Orders per week
the Tech4Farmers Asia Challenge. This market evalua-
tion includes an assessment of manufacturing capacities,
distribution channels, and consumer satisfaction. EDGE
mPower

has been working with Grameen Intel, mPower, Amar MPOWER

Desh Amar Gram (ADAG), and eFishery. M-CRIL
accepted a market review for Nutrition Technology, The GEOPOTATO innovation develops a decision-sup-
AgUnity, and KIU Asia. Unlock has been working with port service for farmers in Bangladesh for an optimal
SunFarmer and FarmTech. control strategy of the late blight disease in potato. It
provides precise fungicide spray advice that reduces both
The project decided to go with three firms for three cost and environmental consequence of fungicide use.
reasons. First, spreading the workload among multiple Market level validation has been accomplished by EDGE
firms will expedite the completion of the validation consulting and it revealed consumer satisfaction on the
stage. Second, although the validation topics have been solution with a 40% reduction of fungicide use.
standardized across the three firms, each firm does have
flexibility in how they assess the organizations. The
project has the opportunity to integrate the various
approaches. Finally, bringing in multiple firms further
expands the innovation ecosystem in the region.

2 4

ENERGAIA
EnerGaia Bangladesh Ltd. has completed setting up lab
facilities in Sher e Bangla Agricultural University with all
necessary equipment. This lab will be engaged to develop
a commercial recipe for spirulina production for rural
farmers. Simultaneously, low-cost wire mash cage closed
tank systems for spirulina production is being tested in
Bangkok. The next step of this development will be the
commercial production through rural farmers.
“I would like to thank the Feed the Future
Asia Innovative Farmers Project for all the
support provided to Energaia and I hope it
will keep continue in future and help us grow
the new industry of spirulina production in
Bangladesh and therefore create thousands
of employments and eventually help fight
malnutrition through spirulina consumption
in Bangladesh.”
– Mr. Ehsanul Karim, General Manager,
EnerGaia Bangladesh Ltd.
2 5
eFishery
eFishery
E-FISHERY
The market level assessment conducted by EDGE
revealed that 88 percent of the users identified the
technology as ‘very effective’ in improving key farming
outcomes. Farmer satisfaction derived from a 10
percent increase in the body size of fish as the feeder
feeds at specific intervals to maximize consumption.
A key measure, Feed Conversion Ratio, saw a 20
percent drop in the amount of feed required to
achieve the realized weight gain of the fish. Feeding the
exact amounts at the right times also led to a drop of
feed costs by 30 percent.
30% 10%


Lower feed costs Increase fish weight
GRAMEEN INTEL
In terms of saving cost, ‘Soil Master’ from Grameen
Intel exceeded farmers’ expectations. The cost of using
fertilizers for farmers has been reduced (estimated 54
dollars reduction per acre). They also appreciated the
easy-to-use nature of this solution where they just had
to submit the soil sample to the entrepreneurs to get
the result in 15 minutes instead of going to the Soil
Resources Development Institute and wait weeks for
results.
DRYING BEADS
Dr. Johan the director of Rhino Research visited
Cambodia to build relationships with local distributors
for distributing drying beads in the Cambodia market.
The project facilitated a meeting between Dr. Johan
and Mr. Thineang, general manager of Angkor green,
to visit a vegetable grower cooperative, two rice seed
production cooperatives, and an organic pepper
cooperative. The aim was to monitor closely the
market demand and market size for drying beads.
During the field visit in Cambodia Dr. Johan provided
training to government officers and Asia Development
Bank (ADB) project officers on application drying
beads to food production chain. Government agencies
from rice crops, agriculture engineering department
and ADB staff expressed appreciation for the drying
method innovation which can help food processing
become more effective with a longer shelf life.
FARMTECH
At the start of the quarter, FarmTech expressed a lack of
investment capital for their grain dryers. As Syngenta is a
sponsor for the validation of this technology, the project
conferred with them to determine a path forward. It was
decided that a validation would be completed and that
the results of this validation would be used to attract
additional capital. A team of consultants from Unlock was
assigned to work with FarmTech in Myanmar. In April,
they will observe the drying units and interact with
concerned stakeholders to assess the market potential of
the technology.
NUTRITION TECHNOLOGIES
Nutrition Technologies is a high potential technology for
helping smallholder farmers access new opportunities for
generating income. The core of this technology is extract-
ing protein from black fly soldiers. The protein from black
fly soldier can substitute the high cost of protein in fish
feed. In addition, shifting fish farmers to insect-based fish
feed will reduce over-harvesting of waterways for small fish
used in traditional fish feed. To have a better understand-
ing of the market, the project commissioned M-CRIL to
conduct a commercial validation. M-CRIL has collected
data on potential buyers, users, distribution and market
systems to define a model that can be expanded to
priority countries.
PEST EXCLUSION NET
With the successful validation results of Pest Exclusion
Net at the farmer and university testing sites, many
private companies, government agencies, and develop-
ment projects have expressed their interest to
promote this technology. G7 Agriculture, a leading
private sector input supplier, installed 48 units in
western Nepal. Modern Agro Technology, one of the
leading agri-input suppliers of western Nepal, is current-
ly developing a marketing plan for this innovation.
Lutheran World Relief (LWR) a humanitarian organiza-
tion is now promoting this technology. It has estab-
lished four demonstration units in the project areas to
raise awareness among farmers about this technology.
Our project helped them to link with the wholesaler
who then further linked them with local farmers, their
cooperatives, and agro-vets to ensure better supply and
application of this technology.
6
 eFishery

DEMAND FEEDER

The testing of demand feeders continues on farmers’

fields and at the university. The initial finding of the
testing shows better prospects of the technology for the
Nepalese fishery industry. It has shown a better Feed
Conversion Ratio than the traditional feeding system.
Initial testing has already encouraged many farmers to
adopt this technology. Nine farmers, outside of the
testing group, have already set up 30 demand feeders in
their farm.

SUNFARMER
“The initial findings are very good and
I would like to extended my commitments The field work of technical validation by
for support to scale up once the final Kasetsart University and business validation by Unlock
results are published.” was completed during this quarter. During the business
– Mr. Ramesh Jaiswal, Fisheries Officer,
Prime Minister Agricultural Modernization validation, different stakeholders of the SunFarmer solar
irrigation project were met and interviewed to better
define the business potential of the technology. The
Other stakeholders have expressed an interest in this
final report is being drafted and will be released soon.
technology. Local cooperatives, private feed companies
and the Prime Minister Agricultural Modernization
Project are keenly observing the test and its results. They
regularly visit the sites and interacts with the testing
farmers as well.

AGUNITY

Small farmers supply up to 80 percent of the developing

KIU ASIA
KIU Asia was a winning innovation selected in
Tech4Farmers Challenge 2.0. A representative of the
organization attended the Lean Start-up Training in
the first quarter. However, the organization has
decided not to continue in ongoing activities due to
their current expansion priorities.The project is
currently considering a replacement for this technolo-
gy from either the honorable mentions of the last
event or new technologies that have already been
validated through our university network.
world’s food, but they don’t work in a vacuum —many
rely on farmer cooperatives for support. AgUnity seeks to
strengthen the farmer cooperative model with a mobile
app called AgriLedger that infuses the system with
accountability and trust. The AgriLedger app securely
records co-op data in a “Book of Truth,” creating an
ironclad, incorruptible and democratized digital record.
With access to price data, for instance, a farmer can
monitor market rates, identify suppliers offering better
deals and confirm she’s been properly paid for the food
she grows.
The project is working with M-CRIL to conduct a market
validation of this technology. Also, the project has intro-
duced this technology to the Cambodia Harvest II project
to solve the market issue of linking farmers, cooperatives,
and inputs supplies.

2 7
 Chapter 2 Strengthening the Regional Enabling Environment

COMPONENT 2:
REGIONAL AGRICULTURE
INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM
DEVELOPMENT

Within this component, the project strengthens networks

to engage innovators and youth in the development and
dissemination of agricultural technologies. Four innovation
hubs were established with the lead at Kasetsart Universi-
ty and one each in Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Nepal.
Two of the innovation hubs, Shree Kisan Innovation Hub
in Nepal and Agribytes in Bangladesh, have launched
impressive outreach efforts to engage audiences. In total,
the combined innovation regional network reaches nearly
2 million users through the various websites and social
media platforms.
SHREE KISAN INNOVATION HUB
Shree Kisan Innovation Hub is gradually moving towards
sustainability. It has firmly positioned itself among donor
communities, farmers, private sector, government and
non-government communities within a year of its establish-
ment. One very good example of this can be taken from a
recent commitment of the International Finance Corporation
of the World Bank Group Member to use this hub a ‘knowl-
edge platform’ to disseminate all information and knowledge.

It has its own website and Facebook page. The Facebook page
AGRIBYTES has exceeded 100,000 likes and followers within a year,
showing how vastly it has been spreading to the public. The
During this quarter AgriBytes cultivated relationships with
website continues to provide helpful information about its
diverse audiences by creating opportunities through social
services and activities. Also, as featured in the success story
media. Currently, Agribytes Facebook has over 63,000
below, Shree Kisan Innovation Hub was an integral partner in
followers with more than 185 posts and consistently making a
launching the Nepal AgriTech International Expo.
conscious effort to acknowledge and promote agricultural
activities. These activities include showcasing new innovative
farming methods and technologies to solve agricultural
challenges, publishing of AgriBytes newsletters, and announc-
ing details of agricultural workshops. This virtual network has
been recognizing the success stories of the farmers of Bangla-
desh while also exploring possibilities for further collaboration.

Currently, AgriBytes has introduced an innovation catalogue

to promote innovations. They have teamed up with a
network of innovators to publish and promote this catalogue
to encourage adoption of new technologies.

8
 Chapter 2 Strengthening the Regional Enabling Environment

“ Social impact
entrepreneurs are not
settling for the norm;
you’re changing the
status quo. ”
– William Sparks, Project Director,
USAID Feed the Future Asia Innovative Farmers Activity

PROJECT DIRECTOR SPEAKS AT SOCIAL CAMBODIAN YOUTH LEADER TO IMPLEMENT

BUSINESS YOUTH SUMMIT INNOVATIVE BUSINESS IDEA

The project director, William Sparks, spoke at the Social Sok Sereiratha was a participant in the USAID-Syngenta
Business Youth Summit at the Knowledge Exchange venue youth connection student program. She had always been
in Bangkok. The summit is an annual gathering of 300 young interested in agriculture, and her participation in the program
leaders and aspiring social business entrepreneurs. This was sparked a desire to develop a technology and new business
the first time that the event was held in Thailand. idea related to agriculture. Recently, she started a new
business initiative with her friend. Her team, named Tang,
Mr. Sparks shared the three phases of scaling up a technolo- provides an outlet for smallholder plants by providing decora-
gy: sourcing, validating, and marketing. Behind each of these tive plants and services included such as décor design and
phases, he shared the three attributes that successful ongoing maintenances.
entrepreneurs incorporate into their practices: insightful,
intentional, and inspirational. As the theme of the project’s
annual report, he also shared the impact of striving for high
hanging fruit. The project continues to collaborate with
partners, such as the Social Business Youth Summit, to
engage youth in the development and dissemination of
technology.

SYNGENTA-USAID STUDENT CONNECTION

YOUTH RECEIVES NOMINATION TO PRESENT
INNOVATIONS AT YOUTH PROGRAM IN MALAYSIA

Tanmoy Kumar Ghose, a participant in the USAID-Syngen-

ta youth program, attended as a delegate participant in the
Diversity and Inclusion Youth Conferencie at the Universiti
Teknologi Malaysia that attracted the participation of 130
young delegates representing various universities, higher
learning institutions and youth organizations from 27 “Agritech is very important in this century. I have experi-
countries. enced some smart technology projects which are engaged
with farmers, and also some technology solutions to help
“My experience in participating in urban people. We are trying to reach this vision.”
Syngenta Connections Student
– Sok Sereiratha, Cambodian youth leader
Connection Program 2017 in
Vietnam and Tech4Farmers Asia
Challenge 2.0 in Thailand support-
ed me for being nominated in this
prestigious event. I have learned
how to identify a problem, how to
shape a problem and how to find
out a sustainable solution through
critical analysis and innovative
thinking following UN convention
model with multinationa.”
– Tanmoy Kumar Ghose, Student,
Bangladesh Agricultural University
9
 Chapter 2 Strengthening the Regional Enabling Environment
SUCCESS STORY SHREE KISAN INNOVATION HUB

Shree Kisan Innovation Hub facilitated the Nepal AgriTech

International Expo 2018 in Kathmandu as co-organizer from
February 15-18, 2018. The event brought together international
exhibitors from 15 countries to showcase innovations for over
50,000 visitors during the four days. Shree Kisan Innovation Hub
provided on-sight training to 410 participants on Demand Fish
Feeders and Pest Exclusion Nets. Shree Kisan Innovation Hub
identified experts (Mr. Khyam Narayan Poudel for Pest Exclusion
Net and Mr. Sailesh Gurung for Demand Fish Feeder) to deliver
the structured training sessions during that event. The response
to these technologies from the visitors was overwhelmingly
positive.

“Shree Kisan Innovation Hub is going to

revolutionize Nepalese Agriculture by
sharing information about innovative
technologies in easy-to-understand terms
which will motivate youth and women to
be more involved in agriculture and help
farmers to increase productivity and
reduce drudgery.”
– Moushumi Shrestha, Founder of Shree Kisan Innovation Hub

Within the expo, Shree Kisan Innovation Hub also coordinated

Agri Symposium 2018. The symposium functioned as a knowl-
edge-sharing and training event where various sessions on
prosperous farmers, climate smart agriculture, goats for growth,
prosperous farmes and innovative technologies for farmers were
conducted. The symposium was a platform where all core
market actors – farmers, various companies involved in agricul-
ture, and government officials – got a chance to come together
and take part in knowledge sharing sessions. Over 1,300 people
attended the four sessions. Two of those sessions were support-
ed by the project, including one session that provided training on
the available innovations. The event was also broadcast live
through Krishi Television, 67 local FM radio stations of Janata
Media Network, and posted on YouTube. In total, the sessions
reached over 40,000 people.
PROMOTING LOCAL INNOVATIONS
Shree Kisan Innovation Hub conducted an Innovation
Challenge Call to identify and bring exposure to local
innovative ideas from many interested people and organiza-
tions. Through this process, it identified ten local innovators
with the greatest potential to impact agriculture and
honored them during the AgriTech International Expo
2018. They produced a marketing piece of each 10 innova-
tions and disseminated these through print and online
media.

10
 Chapter 2 Strengthening the Regional Enabling Environment

COMPONENT 3: REGIONAL
AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY
POLICY DEVELOPMENT

Within this component, the project collaborates with

regional bodies to improve cross-border trade and
exchange of technologies within the region. This collabo-
ration includes both political bodies, such as Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), as well
as private sector associations, such as the Asia Pacific
Seed Association and the U.S. ASEAN Business Council.
The project signed MOUs with private sector associa-
tions this quarter: SAARC Chamber of Commerce and
Asia Pacific Seed Association. The project also engaged
multiple government agencies in reviewing cross-border
challenges to technology transfer. Due to the longer time
horizon of this component, all activities are at risk of
further implementation if additional obligations are not
received.
SAARC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MOU:
IMPROVING CROSS-BORDER LINKAGES
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed with
the SAARC Chamber of Commerce on March 15, 2018 with
a common goal to identify, screen, and support the dissemi-
nation of agribusiness innovations. Initially, the two organiza-
tions seek to launch a SAARC-based innovation discovery
challenge. Then, the project and the chamber will seek to
engage private sector organizations and stakeholders across
the region to provide cross border mentoring and market
linkages for the winning innovations across the eight partici-
pating SAARC countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan,
India, Nepal, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT:
ADDRESSING TRADE BARRIERS IN NEPAL
A roundtable meeting was conducted in January 2018 in
Kathmandu, to discuss different issues in technology innova-
tion adoption and its trade dimensions. These topics included
import, agro technology, safety, extension services, posthar-
vest loss, mechanization, nutrition, capacity building, subsidy
prioritization, land consolidation, contractual farming, ICTs in
agriculture, value chain, investment, intellectual property right,
and insurance.
The event was organized by SAWTEE as a partner of the
project. Included in this meeting was a feedback session from
concerned stakeholder on the study entitled “Enabling
environment for agriculture innovation and technology transfer
and adoption: policy, legislation and practice.” Attending this
session were representatives from the National Planning
Commission, National Peasant’s Commission, Ministry of
Commerce, National Agriculture Research Council, Depart-
ment of Agriculture, private sector and independent entre-
preneurs.

11

ENGAGING PRIVATE SECTOR ACTORS IN NEPAL
Meetings were held with different companies and associa-
tions in Nepal, including InfraCo Asia as a potential investor
in technologies, CGNS Seeds as a potential distributor of
technology, and Global IME Bank as a potential financial
institution for entrepreneurs. These companies have
expressed their interest on further collaboration. The project
is currently facilitating a linkage between InfraCo Asia and
FarmTech in Myanmar to explore potential funding opportu-
nities. Also, the project is in discussions with Global IME Bank
to provide low-interest loans to consumers for any innova-
tions endorsed by the project. The project also met with the
National Agricultural Cooperatives Central Federation
Limited, which has over 800,000 members, to discuss
methods for introducing innovations to their cooperatives
and members.
GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT:
ADDRESSING TRADE BARRIERS IN BANGLADESH
The project continued consultation meetings with national
agencies such as the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of
Agriculture, and the Public Private Partnership Authority. The
project also met with regional bodies the Bay of Bengal
Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Coopera-
tion (BIMSTEC) and the SAARC Agriculture Centre. All of
the bodies emphasized their commitment to collaborate for
addressing trade barriers, including a reduction in import
duties and support in facilitating promotion of new innova-
tions. The project also discovered that prior project-support-
ed training on ISPM 38 has led to the Ministry of Agriculture
to improve current quarantine operations and to propose a
revision to the national quarantine rule.
Chapter 2 Strengthening the Regional Enabling Environment
CAMBODIAN INPUT SUPPLIERS RAISED
IMPORT DUTY CONCERNS
A group of input suppliers came together to identify business
challenges on taxation to the government through a
project-supported agriculture forum on January 3, 2018. Input
materials are currently taxed up to 40%, raising the cost of
production and creating barriers for farmers to invest in new
technologies. Thus, the input suppliers decided to group
together under facilitation of the project to formally define the
business challenges and define potential solutions with the
Minister of Agriculture. As a result, the Minister suggested that
the input supply importers work with his staff to list agricultural
materials or machinery for duty free import.
APSA MOU:
MPROVING ACCESS TO SEED IN THE REGION
On March 29, 2018, the project signed an MOU with the
Asia-Pacific Seed Association (APSA). The project had
already collaborated with APSA in 2017 to align country
seed adoption practices with international standards through
a series of workshops. This MOU seeks to continue this
collaboration by addressing constraints faced by producers in
accessing seeds and, through national and regional events, to
jointly engage agricultural partners, academic institutions,
government agencies, and other stakeholders in addressing
these constraints.
12

COMPONENT4: TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
TO SUPPORT USAID BILATERAL
MISSION-ORIENTED INTERVENTIONS
Within this component, the project collaborates with
bilateral missions and other U.S. government agencies to
jointly design innovation activities to support local objec-
tives. These activities would then be funded by bilateral
missions through the ‘buy-in’ component of the project.
The project has conducted agency outreach to Bangla-
desh, Cambodia, Nepal, Myanmar, and Laos to share
project activities to gauge ability and interest to initial
buy-in for the project. Most conversations generated
enormous interest, but funding uncertainty has limited the
ability of missions to release funds for a regional activity.
The project seeks to facilitate linkages directly with USG
projects and with investors. It should be noted that the
shortened time frame of the project due to the cancella-
tion of funding obligations will limit the ability of the
project to implement buy-in activities.
LINKING TO USAID PROJECT:
CAMBODIA HARVEST PLUS
The project supported two technologies in submitting
applications to the USAID-funded Harvest Plus project in
Cambodia. Harvest Plus is seeking to engage buyers by
strengthening their supply chains. Pest Exclusion Nets reduce
use of pesticides, improve quality, and allow farmers to shift
harvesting seasons to non-peak periods. All of these are
desirable attributes in products for buyers. AgUnity helps
farmers govern their production plan to meet the timing,
quality, and volume demands of buyers. Our project assisted
these two innovations to align their technologies with the
goals of the project.
Chapter 2 Strengthening the Regional Enabling Environment
LINKING TO USAID PROJECT:
BANGLADESH NOBO JATRA
The project met with the management team – composed of
WorldVision, Winrock, and WFP – of the USAID-funded
Nobo Jatra project in Bangladesh. The project attended a
planning session with the team to showcase the various
innovations. Upon further discussion, three innovations were
identified as being most relevant to the goals of the project:
Energaia with the spirulina production, Amar Desh Amar
Gram with the eShop portal, and Grameen Intel with the soil
tester. Our project is currently collaborating with the Nobo
Jatra team to define scaling up activities involving their farmer
groups in the southern part of Bangladesh.
LINKING TO USAID PROJECT:
NEPAL KISAN II
The project met with the leadership team of the
USAID-funded Nepal KISAN II project in Nepal. The project
provided guidance to private sector partners in developing a
concept note to collaborate with the Nepal project to
achieve their development objectives. Private sector appli-
cants included Shreenagar, Nepal Thopa Sinchai, G7 Agricul-
ture, and Modern Agro Technology to expand the use of
pest exclusion nets within KISAN II project areas. Applica-
tions have been submitted and are currently being assessed
by KISAN ll with a final decision anticipated by the end of
April 2018. 13

LINKING TO STAKEHOLDERS:
BOARD OF DIRECTORS VISIT THAILAND, NEPAL
In March 2018, members of the Winrock board of directors
visited technology locations in Bangkok, Thailand and Rupan-
dehi, Nepal. In Thailand, they met with innovators from
EnerGaia and Rhino Research as well as validators from
Kasetsart University. In addition to seeing several technolo-
gies, they also visited the roof of the Novotel Hotel to
observe the harvesting operation of 100 spirulina tanks. In
Nepal, they met with farmers to observe firsthand testing of
the demand fish feeder. Farmers and members of the Jaldevi
fish production cooperative shared their satisfaction of the
performance from the demand feeder. One board member
has already linked Kasetsart University with a US-based
university, and we anticipate additional linkages in the next
quarter.
Chapter 2 Strengthening the Regional Enabling Environment
LINKING TO USDA PROJECT:
LAOS CLEAN
The project facilitated several meetings between TESCO’s
head of purchasing for Thailand operations and the manage-
ment team of the USDA-funded Laos CLEAN project.
TESCO has shared their buying expectations, including
quality specifications and delivery timing. The Laos CLEAN
project is currently conducting a trial delivery of cabbage.
Our project is seeking to support the activity by identifying
innovations that can be incorporated into the supply chain
that will assist farmers in meeting the quality specifications of
TESCO.
LINKING TO INVESTORS IN MYANMAR:
INFRACO ASIA
In Nepal, the project met with a regional investment agency,
InfraCo Asia. Although the organization primarily focuses on
larger infrastructure projects, they also indicated an interest
to work on key technologies within priority supply chains. In
reviewing the technologies, they expressed interest in
working with the dryers of FarmTech in Myanmar. Drying is a
critical stage within several supply chains, and a lack of proper
drying facilities can destroy up to 40 percent of a harvest.
The project is current facilitating a meeting between InfraCo
Asia and FarmTech.
LINKING TO INVESTORS IN THE REGION:
AVPN
The project joined the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network
(AVPN) and is actively linking innovators to investors through
AVPN’s Deal Share Platform. Through the Deal Share
Platform, the project is featuring the capabilities and market
potential of innovators for the purpose of attracting addition-
al capital investors to support the ongoing development and
expansion of innovators. For the upcoming June 2018
conference, the project has supported EnerGaia in attending
a Live Deal Share event where the innovator will have
face-to-face meetings with potential investors.
14
MANAGEMENT

MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

The current obligation constitutes 36% of the total project budget. The project worked with USAID to
review and revise the Y3 annual work plan based on a scenario in which additional funding may delayed or
unavailable. Specific and targeted spot support activities will be defined with an increasing reliance on
other projects or investors to support innovators. Within this context, all sustainability transitions for
post-funding have become a priority. With a potentially shortened time horizon, the project will need to
develop a sustainable exit strategy for long-term development activities.

PARTNER ANALYSIS

The project continues to benefit from the collaboration of Kasetsart University (KU), especially in their
role of validating innovations. The agricultural department of KU provides a wide range of technical exper-
tise that has provided critical feedback in the analysis and development of agricultural innovations.

The project has successfully collaborated with KU to re-define the role of the university as a validator of
technologies. The project will work closely with KU in the months ahead to ensure that the existing
obligation can sufficiently fund the upcoming activities.

INTEGRATION OF STIP, GENDER, RESILIENCE, AND YOUTH

The essence of the project is science, technology, innovation, and partnerships (STIP).The project collabo-
rates with entrepreneurs to leverage advances in science and technology into viable agricultural innova-
tions that improve rural livelihoods.The project seeks to leverage those innovations that benefit women
and youth. In this quarter, the project continued supporting the cross-border transfer of EnerGaia’s biore-
actors into Bangladesh.This low-labor technology can be monitored by women and provide much needed
additional income to families.

Engaging youth remains a priority as the project continues to expand the communications and interactions
with up-and-coming entrepreneurs through the innovation hubs and youth-oriented partners, such as the
Social Business Youth Association. Enrollment and participation continue to increase steadily. The project
and local implementing organizations continue to produce meaningful content to inform, instruct, and
inspire youth and other stakeholders in agricultural technology.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

The project continues supporting innovations that have a positive impact on the environment. Building on past
innovations such as pest-exclusion nets, that reduce the use of pesticide chemicals, and Rhino Research's
drying beads that control post-harvest drying to reduce the spread of aflatoxin, the project continues to
identify environmentally-friendly innovations. The Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) for the project found
that ~90% of activities had a categorical exclusion, but that those with small field demonstrations of fertilizer,
seed or irrigation systems fell under ‘negative with conditions.’ An Environmental Mitigation Monitoring Plan
(EMMP) was created for PEN technology, and an EMMP will be created for those innovations as required per
the IEE.

15
Annex 1: Target and Actuals by Performance Indicators

Actual # / %
Q1 Actual

Q2 Actual

Q3 Actual

Q4 Actual
Indicator

Indicator
Number

Annual
Target

Target

Actual
Annual
Name

Notes
LOP

LOP

#/%
Number of farmers and
others (direct and indirect
beneficiaries) who have 16,542/
1.1.1 applied improved 91%
1,500 0 0 0% 18,000
custom technologies or
management practices
with USG assistance
(Outcome)
Includes two
trainings at
Number of individuals the Nepal
1,665/
1.1.2 who have received USG- Total Agritech
69%
FTF supported short-term 1,000 126 88 18% 2,385 Expo.
(618)/
EG.3.2- agricultural sector Women (25) (41) (11%) (1,431) addressing
(43%)
1 productivity or food (600) PEN and
security training (Output) Demand
Feeder
technologies
Number of for-profit
private enterprises,
producers organizations,
water users associations,
women’s groups, trade
1.1.3 and business associations
FTF and community-based 18/
12 0 0 0% 30
EG.3.2- organizations (CBOs) that 60%
20 applied improved
organization-level
technologies or
management practices
with USG assistance
(Outcome)
Number of for-profit
private enterprises,
producers organizations,
water users associations,
women's groups, trade
1.1.4
and business associations, 159/
FTF
and community-based 25 8 0 32% 175 90%
EG.3.2-
organizations (CBOs)
4
receiving USG food
security related
organizational
development assistance
(Output)
Number of technologies
1.2.1
or management practices
FTF 8/
under research, under 6 1 1 33% 12
EG.3.2- 67%
field testing, or made
7
available for transfer as a

1

 Actual # / %
Q1 Actual

Q2 Actual

Q3 Actual

Q4 Actual
Indicator

Indicator
Number

Annual
Target

Target

Actual
Annual
Name

Notes
LOP

LOP

#/%
result of USG assistance
(Output)
5/
Phase 1 0 0 0 0% 2
250%
3/
Phase II 0 1 1 100% 2
150%
2/
Phase III 11 0 0 0% 12
16%
Number of technologies
or management practices
which are female
supportive, youth
supportive or designed to 3/
3 0 0 0% 6
reduce risk or improve 50%
resilience to climate
change in one or more
phases of development
1.2.2 (Output)
custom
2/
Female 0 0 0 - 2
100%

0/
Youth 2 0 0 0% 2
0%

3/
Resilience 0 0 0 - 3
100%
Number of technologies LOP target
or management practices exceeded.
proposed, accepted or
91/
under incubation through 0 0 0 - 60
151%
USG supported regional
challenge initiative
1.2.3
(Output)
custom
37/
Accepted 0 0 0 - 18
205%

13/
Awarded 0 0 0 - 12
108%
1.2.4
Value of sales of
custom,
technologies in new n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a $20,870
tracking
markets (Outcome)
only
Average percentage of LOP target
1.2.5 income increase potential 20 34/ exceeded.
0 0 0 -
custom of supported technologies 170%
(Output)
Number of innovative LOP target
approaches identified by met.
2.1.1
RDMA that are funded or
custom 2 2/
adopted by USAID or 0 0 0 0%
RDMA 100%
bilateral missions or other
IR S.3
public or private funders
(Outcome)

2

 Actual # / %
Q1 Actual

Q2 Actual

Q3 Actual

Q4 Actual
Indicator

Indicator
Number

Annual
Target

Target

Actual
Annual
Name

Notes
LOP

LOP

#/%
Number of case studies LOP target
and other materials exceeded.
53/
developed and Includes
35 7 20 77% 45 117%
disseminated to facilitate marketing
2.1.2 learning, adoption or materials
custom scale-up (Output) distributed
53/ through
Technology adoption 30 7 20 90% 40 Shree Kisan
132%
Innovation
0/ Hub in Q2.
Policy making 5 0 0 0% 5
0%
Number of stakeholders in LOP target
cross border linkages 150/ exceeded.
established by the Project 14 13 4 121% 101 148% Includes new
(Output) linkages with
SARRC,
2.1.3 58/ Energaia and
custom Education 0 0 0 - 50 Bank Asia,
116%
Sher-e-
22/
Research 6 0 2 33% 20 Bangla
110%
Agricultural
70 University.
Commercial 8 13 2 187% 31
225%
Number of platforms, LOP target
networks and exceeded.
374/
organizations participating 0 29 17 - 363
103%
in a regional or national
hub (Output)
2.1.4
14
Custom Platform Network 0 29 10 - 6
233%
354/
Org in hubs 0 0 4 - 354
100%
6/
Org in advocacy groups 0 0 3 - 3
200%
Number of stakeholders LOP target
participating in the 1,85 exceeded.
2.1.5 1,981,09
regional agricultural 119,393 - 0,48 1549% 250,000
Custom 5/ 792%
innovation community 8
(Output)
Number of agricultural LOP target
and nutritional enabling exceeded.
environment policies Includes
analyzed, consulted on, 30/ Cambodia
0 1 4 - 10
drafted or revised, 300% SPS law
approved and drafted;
2.2.1
implemented with USG Bangladesh
FTF
assistance (outcome) quarantine
EG.3.1-
admin
12
procedures,
and Nepal
4/
Approved or implemented 4 0 3 75% 4 IPSM admin
100%
changes
finalized and
implemented

3

 Actual # / %
Q1 Actual

Q2 Actual

Q3 Actual

Q4 Actual
Indicator

Indicator
Number

Annual
Target

Target

Actual
Annual
Name

Notes
LOP

LOP

#/%
LOP target
exceeded.
Includes
policy
coordination
meetings
Number of policy forums with Min of
2.2.2 41/
and learning events 0 4 11 - 26 Ag and Min
custom 157%
conducted of Industry in
Nepal;
consultation
and learning
events
related to
ISPM.
Value of new private
sector capital investment
3.1.1
in the agriculture sector
FTF
or food chain leveraged by $0 $0 $0 - 0 0
EG.3.2-
Feed the Future
22
implementation
(Outcome)
3.1.2 Number of public-private
FTF partnerships formed as a 10/
3 1 1 33% 12
EG.3.2- result of USG assistance 83%
5 (Output)
Amount of funding
leveraged to support the
3.1.3 $905,73
Project $94,261 $0 $0 0% $1M
custom: 9/ 90%
objectives (Output)