Aga Khan’s lifeline for farmers

What you need to know:

“My life now is not bad, whether it be in dry or wet season. Through vegetable production I was able to overcome absolute poverty and can now support my family,” says Athumani Mohamed. He declares that the positive change in his livelihood is due to his adoption of the good horticultural practices resulting in increased production and sale of vegetables. Today, Athumani Mohamed is able to not only provide enough food for his family, but also pay for school fees with the income from his farming.

Over time, these regions are witnessing a gradual shift from low-productivity, fragmented and subsistence farming to sustainable market-driven agriculture. This has contributed to increased yield, income, savings, food security and growth of micro and small agri-businesses by local entrepreneurs, including women and youth. Targeted farmers have increased yields and income, while food security has improved, with 60 per cent of households being food-secure in 2014 compared to 27 per cent in 2010 in the program areas. Over 200 micro, small and medium agri-business enterprises are being supported by AKF to grow their businesses. By working in multiple value chains (horticulture, rice, pulses, sunflower, sesame and poultry), AKF is facilitating farmers to produce and market a mix of crops which helps in mitigating risk of price fluctuation or a crop failure as well as enables crowding in a range of private sector players. A systems-strengthening approach in partnership with key stakeholders is applied at each stage of the agricultural value chain.

Access to quality inputs and appropriate technology has been limited in Lindi and Mtwara Regions due to issues of demand and supply. AKF stimulated demand for seed, fertilizer, appropriate pesticides, and environmentally sustainable technologies (pedal pumps, drip irrigation and greenhouses) by promoting good agricultural practices among farmers, facilitating demonstration plots and exchange visits. This has resulted in farmers’ increased productivity, income and demand for these inputs and technologies. Simultaneously, under its entrepreneurship programme, AKF trained 257 existing and potential village based agro-dealers (VBAs), of which 177 are now operating viable agro-input supply businesses, providing the last-mile link for inputs and technology. AKF connected these VBAs to input and technology supply companies that were previously not operating in the region, which had a significant impact on the VBAs, on the company reach, and on agricultural practices in Lindi and Mtwara Regions.

AKF’s efforts in increasing access to basic finance through community-based savings group (CBSG) has reached more than 180,000 members – 66 per cent of whom are women. Organised in over 9,300 groups, women and men in rural areas are saving on average Sh 200,000 per person annually, with these groups cumulatively saving an estimated Sh33 billion per year (approximately $ 15 million). As farmers’ capacities in agricultural production improve, their involvement in CBSGs allows for savings, credit and investments into children’s education, family health, business, and purchase of agricultural inputs and services, resulting in greater resilience, productivity and improved quality of life. Building on this success, AKF is driving an innovative mobile money platform together with a technology company to enable savings group members, especially in rural areas, to save and borrow using their mobile phones.

Aga Khan’s lifeline for farmers

What you need to know:

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