Agricultural Diversification

USAID focuses on economic diversification, particularly in rural areas, by promoting improvements in production and marketing. The program helps farmers change from basic grains and low-quality coffee to value-added crops. It also seeks to increase productivity and create linkages between agricultural production in rural areas to relatively higher value processing and marketing enterprises in urban centers. The program builds on USAID's experience to promote non-traditional agriculture exports and improves small producers' access to regional and international markets.

USAID also focuses on providing market information, technology transfer, and information on sanitary and phytosanitary standards to small enterprises and farmers.  USAID helps increase access to credit by strengthening the network of credit institutions and by using Development Credit Authority (DCA) funds for credit lines for small and medium enterprises.

USAID anticipates that even after USAID’s assistance is delivered, there will be substantial replication of best practices and market development and that many producers will continue these improved practices. For additional information, click here: www.usaid-red.org.