Agro-dealers definition
Agro-dealers means established private sector retail and wholesale business traders of farm inputs and other agro-chemicals.
Agro-dealers. Out of the 16 agro-dealers operating in EHZ DFSA intervention woredas, 13 of them are operating well and supplying different agricultural inputs, animal feeds and farm tools to PSNP and non-PSNP clients. During Q2, agricultural inputs and tools supplied to clients through agro-dealers include: 300 kg of vegetables (cabbage, watermelon, onion, tomato, beetroot, and carrot), 200 qt of animals feed, 60 liter of molasses, 60 liters of E.M, 165 agricultural tools (sprayer, spade, watering can, bee smoker, scissors, hammer, sickle, digging hoe, etc.), 4,400 PICS bags, and 50 quintals of potato tuber seeds. The agro-dealers sold a total of 764,000 ETB ($15,201) with a 12% profit margin (91,680 ETB/$1,824). Three agro-dealers participated in output market buying and selling 100 quintals of potato as well as buying and selling coffee in Deder. In Babile, 45 qt of groundnuts were purchased by an agro dealer for retailing purposes. However, three agro-dealers in ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ and Babile are not functioning well, therefore the Ifaa will provide close follow-up support to bring them back on track. • Farmer Training Centers (FTC)/Pastoral Training Centers (PTC): A total of 23 FTC/PTCs were identified to be used as learning centers for experience sharing sites to demonstrate improved agricultural technologies and practices. 20 out 23 were selected based on their potential and accessibility to be used as training center for Lead Farmers (LF)/Lead Herders (LH). Woreda Agriculture Offices also agreed to use FTC/PTC jointly with the AgEL sector for implementation of different technologies. The identified FTCs/PTCs have 0.125 to 3 ha of land, 2 to 3 Development Agents willing to work with the AgEL team for agricultural technology promotion and have well established demo sites. • Private Service Providers (PSPs): Prior to starting SILC and access to formal financial service activities in continuing woredas, a rapid functionality assessment for DFSA-certified SILC PSPs helped the Ifaa team understand the continued availability and willingness of PSPs to engage in SILC group formation through fee-for-service. Out of the total 73 DFSA-certified PSPs, 60 PSPs (24 F) are functional and willing to engage in Ifaa activities. The balance left for a number of reasons including national service, moved to other woredas for marriage, took on other jobs, etc. A code of conduct and service agreement has been drafted to guide and engage the PSPs in Ifaa.