Challenge
The West Asia and North Africa regions are two of the most water-scarce regions in the world with agriculture consuming over 75% of freshwater resources. Many of the groundwater-based agro-ecosystems and river-based irrigated agricultural lands in this region are affected by salinity and water logging, which is a major constraint to crop production.
Solution
ICBA is working to establish salt-tolerant seed production and exchange chains in Yemen and Egypt, where freshwater is scarce. Specifically, the innovator is looking at key crops such as barley, triticale, fodder beet, pearl millet, sorghum, safflower, and quinoa. They seek to improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers.
Milestones and Achievements
The primary objective for ICBA in the first six months of their SWFF award is shifting their focus from production in the Sinai to scaling in the New Valley region of Egypt. Partner meetings took place in early May to ramp up activities in the New Valley. The innovator’s efforts are now centered on recruiting farmers for seed production. In the second year of the award, they intend to turn towards seed sales.
Goals
- Advisory support to help ICBA work through a business model that will be most successful in Egypt and Yemen.
- Support in helping the innovator establish a better understanding of developing an integrated supply chain.
- Consulting on sales and marketing to help ICBA clarify the value proposition to better engage and mobilize the private sector.
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