The United States government launched a Commercial Farm Service Program under the USAID to support the agricultural growth plan of the Ethiopian government according to an announcement from the Embassy of the United States in Addis Ababa.

The program will be part of the American presidential ‘Feed the Future Initiative’ in Ethiopia said the announcement.

The two year program will include grants and trainings for rural entrepreneurs in an effort to create a wholesale farm service center and six retail centers. These centers will be designed to meet the operational requirements of farmers. The centers will serve as medium to large scale suppliers offering a range of agricultural products as well as supplying fertilizer, and seed as well as agricultural and other equipment. It is expected that these centers can reach an estimated 30 thousand small holder farmers in Oromia region.

The centers can also provide services including processing, machinery rental, veterinary services and marketing services. These services build value chains and provide the know how to build business links and access markets.

USAID is proud to support this effort which is designed to support rural entrepreneurs and which will benefit families and communities to contribute to the overall development of the nation.

Source: Ethiopia News Agency