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The Horticultural Advancement Activity (THAzA)

Request for Applications (RFA) # DAPBW-Bal-007/2019

In-Kind Grant Support for Dried Apricot Production Business for Women

‘The Horticultural Advancement Activity’ (THAzA) is a 5-year project awarded by USAID and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. THAzA focuses on selected horticultural value chains in Balochistan and in the selected Newly Merged Districts (NMDs) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (previously called FATA). The objectives of THAzA are to create jobs and generate income, through increased productivity and quality, improved marketing and access to services and investments in horticultural value chains.

To achieve these objectives FAO intends to extend in-kind grant support to female entrepreneurs in Balochistan, for dried apricot production business using modern technology and practices. FAO will directly procure and provide the grantee with a solar drying unit (tunnel structure) and hardware items along with accessories, whereas the grantee will be required to bear the remaining activity cost including land acquisition, floor construction and operational cost. Through this RFA FAO/THAzA invite applications from eligible female applicants, who:

  • Own or has on lease, one kanal of land appropriate for the activity.
  • Want to invest in establishing apricot solar drying business in the selected districts of Balochistan i.e. Quetta, Mastung, Pishin, Killa Saifullah and Loralai.
  • Have the agricultural / entrepreneurial capacity to successfully produce and market dried apricot.
  • Have the financial resources to cost share investments with THAzA in their businesses.

Apart from in-kind grant, THAzA will also provide training on high quality dried apricot production and facilitate/support grantees with the marketing of their produce.

For further details regarding this RFA, including the grants application form, interested applicants may either download the attachment or obtain RFA copies from the FAO THAzA Provincial office in Quetta. For ease of access, RFA and grants application form will also be made available through the relevant District Agricultural Extension Offices.