IFAD has supported Farm Concern International, FCI, to trigger commercialization for 5,335 smallholder farmers and partner with 116 wholesale buyers to generate sales worth USD 6 Million in Malawi aimed at transformed lives through harnessing various domestic marketing systems with an emphasis on traditional marketing systems, which offer the largest trade platform for agricultural produce, including Irish potatoes.

 

  

Programme Summary

In July 2014, Farm Concern International (FCI) rolled out a new program in Malawi, Enhancing Market Access for Irish Potato Farmers & Traders Project (EMAIP) with funding from IFAD (International Fund for Agriculture Development), in collaboration with the Government of Malawi’s Rural Livelihoods and Economic Enhancement Programme (RLEEP). 

The program targets 5,000 smallholder farmers in Dedza and Mchinji for three years, with an aim of enhancing linkages between potato farmers and traders in the Irish potato value chain through business partnerships for enhanced trade and incomes of the smallholder producers. 

Informal traders play a critical link along the potato value chain in Malawi; however, they are faced with numerous challenges that affect their business operations, hence making the potato value chain operate below optimal levels. This program will therefore target 100 key potato traders in the potato value chain from key markets across Malawi; 1,000 farming households in Mlonyeni EPA Mchinji District and 4,000 in Kanyama EPA Dedza.

The proposed EMAIP project aims at harnessing various domestic marketing systems with an emphasis on traditional marketing systems, which offer the largest trade platform for agricultural produce, including Irish potatoes in Malawi. In response to the gaps identified, FCI will work in partnership with Auction Holdings Commodity Exchange (AHCX) an organization which provides real time market information on agricultural value chains. 

 

Case Studies

Malawi Farmers Make USD 7,000

Smallholder farmers from Kafulama Commercial Village realized sales worth over USD 7,000 from collective marketing under the Malawi Potato Commercialization Programme supported by by International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and implemented by Farm Concern International, FCI in partnership with Ministry of Agriculture...Read More

 

Category: Interventions
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FCI Programmes


FCI VISION :Commercialized smallholder communities with increased incomes for improved, stabilized & sustainable livelihoods in Africa and beyond.