The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Liberia awarded 32 grants to local agribusinesses during a three-day pitch event that was the culmination of a business incubation program.
The incubation program which was deployed across all 15 counties was run by local incubator service providers TRIBE, iCampus and Educare.
The incubators provided relevant skills and support to 92 start-ups and small agribusinesses; 36 of these were women-owned and over the last six months came in readiness for the pitch events where they presented their business proposals.
32 agribusinesses with the most promising and impactful pitches received awards of $10,000, $25,000 and $50,000.
Those in the $50,000 category were JUIN Orgaburst Inc.; Kids Dream Ice Cream and Fast-Food Kitchen; Calaw Foods, Inc.; Leo Nutrition; Toe-Zarzar Farms Inc.; the 8teen Corporation; Jackson Ranch Incorporated; Women Agriculture Promoters; HHH Foods Inc and Angea Agro Hub.
While those in the $25,000 category are TBG Farms; Fortsville Farmhouse, Inc.; Fefe’s Coco-Fresh; MAYO Farm; Bele-Demai Farmers’ Cooperative, Inc; Eco-Soap Liberia; Victory Innovative Farm & Investment; Ma Lude Business, Inc. and Agro Green Agriculture Development.
The $10,000 Awardees are Alex Sweet Honey; Tetoria Seafish; Blog Coconut Oil Company; HaNaMas Crunchy Fish; Green Gold Processing Enterprise; Yarkpazuah and Bindah Enterprise; Passama Fish Farmer Union; KT & AT Cashews Farms Inc.; Natural Honey; Search Africa; Norah Agro Processing; Youth Agribusiness for Liberia and Galima Agro Value Chain
Meanwhile, the Charge d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Liberia, Catherine Rodriguez, underscored the goal of making USAID partnerships more accessible to everyday Liberians in the agribusiness sector.
She said, “Over the long-term, it is not foreign assistance, but rather sustained market-driven growth and productivity gains in Liberia’s agricultural sector that are the best and most sustainable way to help improve food security.”
The Minister of Agriculture, Jeanine Cooper, thanked USAID for responding to a clear and persistent need to invest in agribusinesses in Liberia, and by extension, creating jobs for young people.
She celebrated the approach USAID had adopted that allowed the agribusinesses to pitch in-person.
“Other approaches have been less effective as there is a limited vision of what’s possible when a businessperson is not standing in front of you taking questions. I am learning a lot as my Ministry is offering grant opportunities through the Liberia Agriculture Commercialization Fund (LACF)”
The Senior Technical Director of the Africa Trade and Investment activity, Golden Mahove, which is implanting the Agribusiness Incubator and Development activity on behalf of USAID, encouraged the companies present to ensure scalability of their businesses which will in turn foster sustained economic growth for Liberia noting, “We are co-creating these ideas with the aim that the impact will reach all parts of Liberia.”
The CEO of Natural Honey and one of the competition winners, Blessing F. Hallie, expressed gratitude for the funding, and the mentorship and technical assistance by the incubators that will go a long way in ensuring growth and scale.
“I am happy that USAID invested in my dream. As a high school graduate, and a woman, I wondered if I could effectively compete. I encourage especially women who do most of the heavy agricultural work to respond to calls like USAID’s and seek ways to better themselves and their communities,” Hallie stated.
USAID Mission Director, Jim Wright; USAID Deputy Mission Director, Rory Donohue, Political Officer at the US Embassy, Juan D. Martinez; USAID Economic Growth Office Director, Megan Kyles and USAID Economic Growth Office Deputy Director, Joe-Hoover Gbadyu presented awards to winners over the three days.
This partnership between USAID and Liberian agriculture companies, through the Africa Trade and Investment Activity, marks a significant step in strengthening the commercial agricultural sector in Liberia.
The investment and support provided aim to foster growth, expansion, and the creation of new domestic and international markets for Liberian agribusinesses.
USAID is the world’s premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results.
The USAID Africa Trade and Investment (ATI) Activity is designed to bolster USAID’s ability to boost trade and investment to, from, and within the African continent.
The continent-wide Activity is USAID’s flagship effort under the Prosper Africa initiative.
The program allows the U.S. Government to work closely with the private sector to shape activities that unlock business opportunities, particularly those that drive trade and investment into and out of African markets.
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US Gov’t Awards 32 Grants To Agribusiness Startups …As Competitive Pitch Events End In Liberia
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