Program Overview:The two-year USAID-funded Zaytun Project strengthens Egypt’s competiveness across the olive oil and table olive value chains. The olive sector currently represents approximately 30,000 Egyptian jobs, but does not effectively capitalize on export market opportunities due to substandard production and post-harvest practices. The program prepares processors and producers to meet the expanding market demand and take advantage of the significant opportunities for market expansion.
Problem Statement:
• Egypt is currently unable to take advantage of export market opportunities due to inconsistent quality and supply of raw olives, a lack of post-harvest infrastructure, poor handling practices and weak supply chain linkages
• Raw material supply does not meet the demand of processors and traders, which causes them to operate below capacity and limits possible value addition
• Full value of olive exports not realized due to marketing of bulk products with limited value addition such as packaging and bottling
Approach:
• Instruct lead trainers on improved production and post-harvest practices and enable the lead trainers to teach their community’s olive farmers
• Provide matching grants to fund harvesting technology and infrastructure for post-harvest sorting, storage and packaging
• Develop targeted feasibility studies, business plan development and provide access to credit to enable processors to capitalize on export market opportunities by upgrading their business practices to engage in value-added activities such as bottling, packaging, and proper storage
• Facilitate linkages between processors and growers’ associations and finance providers
Expected Impacts:
• Improve production practices and post-harvest handling of olive producers
• Facilitate market linkages for olive processors
• Create 600 new jobs
• Impact 2,500 farmers
• Increase smallholder incomes by at least 30%