Horticulture Value Chain Development Project

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The Project seeks to support the Government of Mali to grow its horticultural sector. The Project will strengthen the enabling environment and institutional foundations for the entire horticultural value chain (including both vegetable crops and fruit trees) while also simultaneously supporting sustainable improvements both in the upstream and downstream segments of the horticulture sector in selected main producing areas of Koulikoro/Bamako, Sikasso, Kayes, and Segou. Support will be provided for institutional capacity strengthening and increasing horticulture production, value addition, competitiveness, and marketing. More specifically, the project includes four Components: Component 1: IMPROVING THE ENABLING ENVIRONMENT AND QUALITY OF SUPPORT SERVICESThis component aims to create a conducive environment for the horticulture sector in Mali and provide support services for its sustainable development. This will be achieved by strengthening the capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture. This Component has 3 sub-components: (i) Strengthen the capacity for policy formulation, (ii) Strengthen national quality control systems, and (iii) Foster linkages among actors along the value chain and financial services.Component 2: SUPPORT FOR MODERNIZING ON-FARM HORTICULTURE PRODUCTION SYSTEMSThis component aims to improve the productivity of horticulture producers in a way that is economically and environmentally sustainable. This component will support modernizing on-farm horticulture production systems and has 3 sub-components: (i) Organize and empower producer groups among value-chain actors, (ii) Train farmers on climate-smart horticulture production systems, (iii) Facilitate access to improved technologies and scaling up of climate-smart horticulture production systems. Component 3: IMPROVING VALUE CHAIN EFFICIENCY AND MARKETING CAPACITY OF HORTICULTURE AGRI-ENTERPRISESThis component aims to enhance finance and market access and value addition for horticulture agri-enterprises to improve their profitability. This will be achieved by addressing market infrastructure and financial constraints related to the processing, storage, handling, and marketing of horticulture produce and processed products. This Component has 4 sub-components: (i) Support value addition through improved horticultural technologies, (ii) Strengthen horticulture storage services, (iii) Facilitate compliance mechanisms in relation to quality control, (iv) Establish a Finance Facility for increasing the competitiveness and commercialization of horticulture production systems. Component 4: PROJECT COORDINATION, MONITORING AND EVALUATION, AND CONTINGENCY EMERGENCY RESPONSEThis component aims to enhance the administrative, technical, and financial management of the project. It will also facilitate coordination among all institutional partners to ensure efficient information flow and support to all actors in the value chain. The contingency emergency response component (CERC) is a zero-cost, to finance eligible expenditures during natural or man-made crises, disasters, severe economic shocks, or other emergencies in Mali.