AgDevCo

Improving extension services with a non-recoverable investment of $335,000 aims to raise the annual average income of smallholder farmers by 131% by 2021. The farmers surveyed are generally poorer than the population of Tanzania as a whole – 24% were living below the national poverty line.  

AgDevCo’s Smallholder Development Unit is supporting GADC to provide microloans and training to build financial skills, with the aim of stabilising household incomes, and improving productivity. The VSLA members are generally poorer than the population of Uganda as a whole, with 20% of members  found to be living below the national poverty line for Uganda. When asked, 13% of respondents reported to having eaten only one meal the previous day.

Rungwe Avocado Company (RAC) is investing in Tanzania’s avocado production to reach international market standards. RAC outgrowers will benefit from AgDevCo’s Smallholder Development Unit support through improved extension services. The goal is for 75% of avocados  procured  from smallholder farmers to be of export quality.

Our team in Malawi provides regular support to management to strengthen governance, operations and financial performance. The company is working directly with farmers to increase productivity and reduce aflatoxin levels, through an extension programme supported by our Smallholder Development Unit.

Our investment in Afri-Oils, is helping to revive Malawi’s peanut industry. 

In this blog post, Sandi Roberts explains three practical steps agribusinesses can take to help close the gender gap in smallholder outgrower schemes. 

Case study of AgDevCo’s impact at GADC. 

In this report, we share research-based insights and practical findings from our gender research for the benefit of the wider investment community, including investors who are interested in ESG issues in general, as well as those operating in the agriculture sector of sub-Saharan Africa.

Agribusinesses can realise their full potential by creating new opportunities for women. This compact flyer highlights the gender business case for agribusinesses. 

Case study demonstrating a successful cooperative model in Malawi.

Phata successfully paid back its development loan, two years early. An achievement in its own right – especially for a newly formed co-operative – this was more impressive given that southern Malawi has been hit hard by drought, floods and power shortages in recent years.

Northern Zambia has scant formal infrastructure and employment, and is highly dependent on rain-fed agriculture, despite being naturally rich in water. Until now, Zambia has also been 100% reliant on imported seed potatoes, an economically important food crop.