AFIDEV – Support for export sectors and rural development in the Union of the Comoros

Various activities have been developed to achieve these objectives:

1. Assist micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and cooperatives with the processing, storage and packaging of their products
2. Assist the reform of the National Vanilla Office to turn it into the Comorian Office for Cash Crops and structure sector dialogues  
3. Develop outlets for Comorian export products through partnerships with actors downstream in the sectors (in importing countries)
4. Support applied agronomic research at the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment (INRAPE)
5. Increase agricultural production in export sectors and other diversification crops through training and access to equipment
6. Open up production areas by rehabilitating strategic rural roads.

All these activities will be carried out paying particular attention to the specific gender issues for the Comoros and this agricultural sector.

AFIDEV stands out from many projects through its “bottom-up” approach defined with the Government of the Comoros:

• Start downstream in sectors (control of markets in importing countries) and subsequently train and organise national operators (processing and packaging companies)
• Improve the business climate by creating the Comorian Office for Cash Crops (OCPR) and structuring the public-private dialogue
• Adapt technical itineraries on farms and in agricultural cooperatives and help set up trade agreements favourable to producers’ interests  
• Involve and directly support Comorian public and private operators in the activities to be carried out (principle of aid ownership).