The Nuru Ethiopia Agriculture Team has been busy preparing to issue the first round of farm input loans for 2015. This is a year of huge growth for the Agriculture Program, where they are aiming to triple in operational area and number of farmers reached. Over the first three months of 2015, the team has finalized loan repayment and market linkages operations, guided six new cooperatives through the registration process, collaborated with the Financial Inclusion Program to legally register women savers in three cooperatives, and have created and executed the planning process for agriculture input issue for the nine cooperatives which they will work with this year.
See the Nuru Ethiopia team in action!
Biruk, the new Cooperative Expert, proudly showing one of the new cooperative’s licenses. Biruk is supporting the Agriculture and Financial Inclusion teams to implement activities directly related to capacity building and sustainability of the cooperatives.
Biruk leading the General Assembly in Dubano Bulo that resulted in the legal incorporation of the women savers into the Dubano Bulo Grain Marketing Cooperative.
The General Assembly in Meteke Mele made it possible for women to join the Grain Marketing Cooperative.
Nigussie, the Scaling and Operations Manager, explaining the maize and haricot bean seed procurement process to Nuru International staff visiting the project. This year, Nuru Ethiopia has procured over 150 quintals (15,000 kilograms) of maize seed and 70 quintals (7,000 kilograms) of haricot beans.
Zefine Menuka farmers using a shelling machine provided by Nuru Ethiopia to shell maize to sell through the market linkage facilitated by Nuru Ethiopia.
Cooperatives collecting a small fee to cover the cost of shelling operations. The cooperative has already made a profit of 5,000 Birr ($250). In addition, they have sold almost 1,000 quintals (1 quintal = 100 kilograms) of maize through the market linkage. For each quintal sold, they took a 20 Birr commission resulting in a profit of 20,000 Birr ($1,000), which will be used to improve services provided to the cooperative members.
Banchi, a Field Officer, leading technical training for 9 Community Animators. Community Animators are Nuru Ethiopia field staff that mobilize and closely support Nuru Ethiopia member households.