The
goal of the retail program, launched in October 1996, is to promote efficient
and competent retail input supply and marketing businesses that will provide
farmers with reliable and affordable access to agricultural inputs.
With
the liberalization of Ethiopia's agricultural markets in 1992, a large number of
traders have entered the newly competitive input and output markets. In
order to support the continuing development of a healthy, private marketing
system, VOCA has designed the Input Retailers program in collaboration with SG
2000, Regional Cooperative Bureaus and Regional Agriculture Bureaus to provide
business skills training and technical support to small scale and rural traders.
Since
1996, the Retail training program has delivered courses on Bookkeeping and
Financial Management; Handling of Agricultural Chemicals; Warehouse Management
and Input/Output Marketing to 300 retailers and support professionals, and its
target beneficiaries have expanded to include agricultural processors.
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