Counterpart International's agriculture and livestock development programs focus on developing smallholder production, processing and marketing, while also promoting good environmental stewardship.

Counterpart International (Counterpart) increases food security and encourages smallholder farmers and their families to generate more product and income by: increasing access to agricultural inputs and credit; improving agricultural and livestock production and productivity; linking agricultural output with regional and national markets; and introducing community-based strategies to mitigate the impact of pests, climate and environmental degradation that can retard or destroy crops and livestock.

Counterpart's specific agriculture and livestock development interventions include:

• Training in improved planting techniques, including improved seeding, crop rotation and intercropping, fertilizer application and pest management;
• Establishment of demonstration plots and introduction of new varieties;
• Training in herd management, animal health and production and management of animal fodder;
• Establishment of seed and tool banks;  
• Organization of livestock vaccination campaigns, training of para-vets and establishment of mobile veterinary pharmacies;
• Construction and reinforcement of infrastructure such as wells, small-scale irrigation, water harvesting dikes, livestock immunization parks and water ponds;
• Establishment and rehabilitation of collection centers, storage facilities and equipping farmers and women's groups with value-added processing equipment;
• Training in post-harvest practices such as food preservation, improved storage and safe food handling technologies;
• Training in improved marketing skills including promotion, packaging, pricing, processing and transportation methods;
• Formation and strengthening of the organizational and commercial capacities of producer associations and cooperatives;
• Training in farm management and business planning; and
• Establishment and/or training of agricultural credit institutions.

Examples:

• In Niger, Counterpart is supporting 40 communities to protect wetlands from the advance of the desert through green fencing and re-vegetation to stabilize sand dunes. In an additional 60 communities located in arid areas, Counterpart is assisting smallholder farmers to establish integrated agro-forestry plots that restore soil fertility, increase yields and generate supplementary resources such as fire wood, Arabic gum and wild fruits. 
• In Senegal, Counterpart supported a women's association to improve their ability to cultivate, transform, package and market local rice produced in the Senegal River Valley. Over a 3-year period, association members improved the calibration of rice into specific sizes for more consistent packaging, set up a rice processing unit, sold a total of 60.5 MT of rice through marketing at a local agricultural fair, and developed new relationships with commercial traders to sell their rice.

Photos: © Counterpart International.