A joint inititive by SNV and Helvetas, launched in 2009 with funding from the European Union's rapid response Food Facility to address soaring food prices in developing countries, the intervention sought to scale up development of the rice value chain by expanding the earlier SNV Rice Value Chain programme's project area to six provinces, with a target of 20 mills (including 10 female rice millers) and a production network of 20,000 smallholder rice producers. The overall goal of the intervention was to contribute to a rapid and sustained increase in the supply of good quality milled rice for domestic consumption and trade.

A key component of the intervention was the capacity strengthening of farmers and rice millers, especially women, by providing gender inclusive training and extension support. The extension programme focused on, among others: (1) increasing paddy rice yields; (2) improved post-harvest handling practices; (3) improved milled rice recovery rates; and (4) better marketing practices. SNV also facilitated strengthening of farmers' groups with special attention to promotion of women in steering committees, strengthening business linkages between farmers and rice millers, and enhancing the policy environment by linking rice miller groups with concerned national and provincial agencies.