USAID’s Agricultural and Rural Development (ARD) Program has announced the launch of the Agricultural Processing Development Program. The program plans to provide approximately UAH 120 million for 15 potential subgrants.

The amount of each subgrant can range from UAH 8 million to 40 million. The expected start date for subgrants is January 20, 2025. This was reported by the Department of Agricultural Development with reference to Kimonix International.

The Program will focus on strengthening processing capacities to produce value-added products from the following raw materials: vegetables and root crops, fruits, berries, legumes, corn for food, greens, meat, milk, honey. Projects aimed at processing cereals, oilseeds, nuts, mushrooms, and alcoholic beverages will not be supported.

Eligibility criteria:

– A Ukrainian non-governmental enterprise/company that has experience and is a processor of agricultural products (at least 5 years of business experience and at least 2 years of experience in the agricultural processing sector);

– willingness to co-finance at least 50% of the total project budget (in cash or in kind).

Results to be achieved within the project:

1. Increase in the volume of raw materials procurement and processing by at least 25% during the project implementation period.
2. At least 10 new MSME partners of raw material suppliers will receive reliable systematic and long-term sales channels at competitive prices during the first year of project implementation.
3. Increase in productivity by at least 25% during the project implementation period with further growth dynamics in the following years.
4. Expansion of sales channels and markets for finished processed products.
5. The minimum annual volume of processed raw materials should be more than 1500 tons (for honey – more than 200 tons).

“I recommend that processing companies in the Lviv region take part in this grant program, as it will help to significantly increase the volume of raw materials procurement and processing, expand sales channels for finished products and modernize production facilities. This will help to increase efficiency and productivity, as well as find new partners and customers. Funding for the project from the grantor will reduce the financial burden on the enterprise and allow it to focus on the development and implementation of innovative solutions,” said Tetiana Hetman, Director of the Agricultural Development Department of Lviv Regional State Administration.

The application deadline is no later than 18:00 on October 1, 2024.

For those wishing to participate in the USAID AGRO Grant Program, a seminar will be held on August 16, 2024 from 11:00 to 13:00, registration for the seminar is required by August 15, 2024, at the link: http://surl.li/hvtgjm.

More information about the grant program: http: //surl.li/giwgav.