Abstract
The Smallholder Oil Palm Support project (SHOPS) fosters grassroots economic growth in rural Liberia by building local capacity in technology manufacture and commercialization, agricultural production and processing, and small business development. SHOPS has focused its efforts in Bong, Grand Bassa, Lofa, and Nimba counties. The selection of the regions where the project's activities take place is due in part to the emphasis the Government of Liberia and USAID have placed on stimulating agricultural development in these rural areas (or what were formerly, colloquially known as the "hinterlands") that have historically remained most marginalized in terms of infrastructure, economic opportunities, and political participation. SHOPS extension agents work with Liberian nursery owners to build a local supply chain for tenera oil palm seedlings. SHOPS has promoted the local propagation and commercialization of seedlings from imported hybrid tenera seeds in order to encourage local farmers to replace the old trees with newer and higher-yielding oil palms. This study was guided by a series of questions intended to reveal whether the products and services promoted through SHOPS generated meaningful economic, social, and environmental impacts for the Liberian farmers and entrepreneurs who participated in the project activities: (1) who were the participants and how did they benefit from SHOPS; (2) did the activities stimulate income generation and if so, approximately how much; (3) what other types of impacts can be linked to the project activities; and (4) what types of concerns and feedback did the participants express concerning SHOPS. The findings of this final evaluation show that SHOPS technical and business development activities have aided over 9,000 Liberian farmers, technology users, and entrepreneurs to generate USD 8.3 million dollars in increased income over the duration of the project. In general, SHOPS enjoyed a highly favorable environment in which to promote the diffusion of small scale palm oil processing equipment and introduce hybrid oil palm seedlings. Local knowledge of and experience with oil palm farming and processing coupled with a strong local demand for oil palm products led to rapid spread of interest and investments in the Freedom Mill 2 and production of tenera seedlings. Liberians were eager to adopt the technologies and services promoted through SHOPS because they complemented and enhanced, rather than replaced or disrupted, local palm oil production methods. In addition, most of the loan recipients expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the loan process. In terms of constraints, SHOPS operated mainly in Bong, Nimba, and Lofa counties where there is still a severe lack of infrastructure, capital, and technical training that hampers the establishment and growth of small enterprises. The cost of materials and transport were cited as consistent challenges for the project participants, and employment opportunities linked to the oil palm sector tend to favor men rather than women. Despite these constraints SHOPS met and/or exceeded most of its performance indicators. (Excerpt, modified)