Feed the Future (FTF) Nepal Seed and Fertilizer Sectors Development Project (SFDP) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Feed the Future Nepal Seed and Fertilizer Sectors Development Project (SFDP)?

SFDP is a USAID-funded grant opportunity designed to raise national crop productivity and improve food security for poor households in Nepal by strengthening the country's seed and fertilizer systems.

What problem is SFDP trying to address?

The opportunity is based on the idea that farmers achieve more reliable yield gains when they can consistently access quality seed and when soil fertility is managed using practical, science-based approaches. SFDP focuses on strengthening systems so improved technologies and practices can be developed, tested, produced, marketed, and delivered to farmers more effectively.

What is Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) in this opportunity?

Within SFDP, Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) refers to a more complete set of practices and inputs intended to help farmers maintain or improve soil health while boosting agricultural output. The framing emphasizes that productivity gains should not come at the expense of soil fertility.

How is the project structured?

SFDP is structured around two connected components: one focused on seeds and the other focused on fertilizer. These components are intended to work together to improve farmer access to quality seed and to support improved soil fertility management.

Is SFDP mainly a direct input distribution program for seeds or fertilizer?

No. The opportunity indicates SFDP is not intended to function mainly as a direct input distribution program. Instead, it is intended to improve the capacity of public and private sector institutions involved in agricultural technology development and dissemination.

What types of systems or functions does SFDP aim to strengthen?

SFDP aims to strengthen how technologies are developed, tested, produced, marketed, and delivered to farmers, as well as the supporting systems that enable those steps, including coordination among research bodies, seed companies, agro-dealers, and extension services.

Who is the project intended to benefit?

The opportunity emphasizes improving food security for poor households in Nepal and improving smallholder farmer access in targeted areas so producers can obtain quality seeds and adopt ISFM technologies more easily.

Where will SFDP activities take place?

SFDP activities are concentrated in the Feed the Future Zone of Influence (ZOI) covering 20 districts in Nepal.

Which crops and value chains are prioritized under SFDP?

Commodity and value chain priorities include major staples and nutrition-relevant crops such as rice, maize, and lentils, along with other high value vegetable value chains.

Why does the opportunity focus on both staple crops and vegetables?

The stated intent is to deliver broad productivity impacts through staple crops (such as rice and maize) while also supporting higher-value production opportunities (through vegetables) that can improve household income and diet quality.

What are the main expected results of SFDP?

The opportunity lists three main expected results: (1) expanding the role and strengthening the capacity of public and private sector actors involved in developing and spreading improved technologies, (2) increasing the number of productivity-enhancing technologies actually available to smallholder producers in the ZOI, and (3) strengthening international partnerships and ensuring adequate financing for agricultural research to increase productivity while maintaining or improving soil fertility.

What kinds of organizations or actors are referenced as part of the project approach?

The opportunity references public and private sector actors such as research organizations, extension systems, seed producers, fertilizer suppliers, and other market and service providers. It also mentions coordination among research bodies, seed companies, agro-dealers, and extension services.

What does it mean to increase the number of technologies available to smallholders?

Based on the description, this implies not only new or improved options (such as improved varieties or better fertility practices) but also stronger pathways for those options to reach farmers at scale in the ZOI.

How does the opportunity address sustainability of yield gains?

The opportunity explicitly recognizes that yield gains that degrade soils are not sustainable. It ties long-term productivity to maintaining or improving soil fertility, including through ISFM and strengthened agricultural research financing and partnerships.

Which agency posted this funding opportunity?

The opportunity was posted by USAID Nepal (Kathmandu).

What type of funding mechanism is used for SFDP?

The listing describes this as a discretionary funding opportunity using a Cooperative Agreement mechanism.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA listed is 98.001, described as USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is open to any type of applicant entity, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications that may appear in the full announcement.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. The opportunity states that cost sharing or matching is required.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The opportunity was created on May 7, 2015, posted on May 8, 2015, and shows an original and current closing date of May 21, 2015. An archive date is listed as June 20, 2015.

What is the award amount for this opportunity?

The listing shows an award ceiling and floor of 0. The summary indicates this typically means award amounts were not specified in the summary record and would need to be confirmed in the full solicitation documents.

Who can be contacted for access issues or questions related to the announcement?

The point of contact provided is Ram Gurung, Acquisition and Assistance Specialist at USAID Nepal, phone 977 1 4234339.