Cost Benefit Analysis is essential for farm budgeting and planning enabling farmers to effectively compare and determine the profitability of various commodities; thereby creating an opportunity to identify and venture into farming as an enterprise based on current data. Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) is a tool for determining agricultural enterprises profitability by assessing the gross revenues from an enterprise less the variable costs incurred. This information has enabled Commercial Villages understand how to determine their crops and products mix depending on profitability, input costs, land availability and labour intensity as some of the major cost drivers

Kenya

Cost Benefit Analysis: Kenya

According to a Cost Benefit Analysis conducted by Farm Concern International in Coastal Kenya, tomato is the most profitable crop with gross margin estimated at Kshs 149,250, Kshs 82,550 for cassava, Kshs 70,250 for pineapples, Kshs 24,770 for maize, Kshs 13,080 and Kshs 16,170 for green grams and cowpeas respectively while gross margin for chilli was Kshs 111,900 per acre per season. Maize farming among small holder farmers in Kenya is labour intensive and the main cost drivers include weeding, harvesting and fertilizer estimated at 17%, 13%, and 16% respectively while post-harvest loses are estimated at 5%. Maize has the lowest gross margin per acre compared to onions and cassava. Although onion is the most profitable crop, it requires high initial investment which might be a challenge for most resource constrained farmers. In one year, maize and onions can attain at least two production cycles compared to cassava which can only be harvested once in a year...Read More

Tanzania

Cost Benefit Analysis: Tanzania

A multi-value chain Cost Benefit Analysis conducted by Farm Concern International, FCI in Tanzania revealed that maize production among small holder farmers is labour intensive and the yield level is estimated to be about 1800Kgs/Acre. Labour costs are estimated to be 83% of the total production costs. The main cost drivers include weeding, fertilizer as well as shelling and harvesting as indicated in the figure below. The gross margin per acre is estimated at USD 240.5. Although bulb onion has the largest gross margin per acre, more investment is required in comparison to beans and maize.....Read More

Rwanda

Cost Benefit Analysis: Rwanda

A Multi-Value Chain Cost Benefit Analysis conducted by Farm Concern International in Rwanda under the Value Chains, Enterprises Development, Market Access and Commercialization (VEMAC) Programme funded by World Vision Rwanda revealed that cassava production is labour intensive with labour costs accounting for 54% of the total cost of production. Investment of labour saving technology would therefore influence profitability positively. From an Are  of land, a farmer can earn an estimated net income of USD 58.8 (USD 5876 per hectare) at yield level of 400Kgs/Are representing a cost benefit ratio of 5.13. Comparing cassava, Irish potatoes, passion and maize, cassava is the most profitable crop while maize and Irish potatoes are the least profitable...Read More

Malawi

Cost Benefit Analysis: Malawi

According to a multi-value chain Cost Benefit Analysis conducted by Farm Concern International under the Transforming Household Resilience in Vulnerable Environments (THRIVE) project funded by World Vision Malawi, groundnut production among small scale farmers is highly labour intensive with labour costs accounting for 85% of the total cost of production. The main cost drivers include weeding land preparation and harvesting with yield level estimated at 800kgs/acre while the average farm gate price is estimated at USD 0.5 per Kg. As such, investment in ground nuts production has a cost benefit ratio of 4.11. Comparing soya, maize and green gram production, maize farming require the highest investment estimated at USD 390 per acre although groundnut has the highest gross margin per acre; USD 292...Read More

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For the last 12 years, Farm Concern International, FCI has been in the heart of the traditional informal markets studying and facilitating markets access with evidence based inbuilt digitization process. FCI is facilitating informal market access and trade on behalf of several international actors with a focus on multi-value chains. FCI is digitizing these informal markets for the purpose of building efficiency, undertaking market access and enhancing partnerships with formal companies. Informal Markets are extremely complex and highly organized marketing systems that have evolved over several years across Africa and account for 90% of farm-gate trade but have remained traditional and informal though doing business worth billions of dollars across Africa. They are tough, rough and hard- hitting systems that have surprisingly stabilized with minimal infrastructure, amidst weak policy and limited technical support. We all owe respect to these traditional self-driven systems; they are survivor markets and have weathered several economic shocks. 

Tanzania

Is getting brokers out of the value chain really addressing the real problems?

According to a potato cost driver analysis in Tanzania by Farm Concern International under the Regional Seed-Farmer-Market-Consumer Integrated Value Chain Development Programme referred to as the SeFaMaCo Programme, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia, brokerage fee accounts for 1% of the total cost incurred by wholesaler aggregators. Brokers are agents who act on behalf of the wholesalers and can easily be confused for wholesalers since they are more active in negotiations along value chains. Brokers have for a long time been blamed by smallholder farmers as the biggest beneficiaries from proceeds accrued from their commodities. However, the study revealed that Brokers are victims of the inefficiencies of the trading systems...Read More

Transport is chocking Wholesaler Aggregators Business turning them into Value Chain losers

Transport fee remains the highest banana cost driver for informal wholesaler aggregators accounting for 52% of the total cost. This can be attributed to the poor road infrastructure especially within Commercial Villages and the fact that most buyers don’t own transport means thus hire vehicles which are charged at relatively high prices since most service providers know they are desperate for their services. Transport cost is followed by brokerage commission at almost half-24% which is as a result of the scattered sourcing especially where buyers source from individual farmers where there is no collective action hence farmers do not sell their produce in Groups. The least cost driver is market cess-1% followed closely by administration cost at 3% of the total cost...Read More 

Kenya

Informal Wholesale Markets Summary in Coastal Kenya

The profiling of the informal wholesale markets across the Kenya’s coastal region has revealed numerous opportunities for smallholder farmers to engage with buyers. The annual market size for assorted commodities across six major wholesale informal markets is USD 45,615,797 facilitated by 2,213 wholesalers. Statistics reveal that traders are operating at 62% of the market potential given the documented annual market capacity of USD 72,442,428. Irish potatoes, tomatoes, kales, bananas and cabbages are the most traded commodities although huge market deficits for all the commodities are still persistent...Read More

Maize Cost Benefit Analysis & Price Trends In Kenya

The leading cost in main production includes inputs costs - fertilizer, manure, chemicals, spraying and seeds (42%), followed by weeding (19%) and land preparation (18%), respectively. The average cost of production from the assessment study shows that the total production costs per acre are Kshs. 23,652 (USD 275), with an average production per acre of 2.7MT, the production cost per 90 kg bag translates to approximately Kshs. 788 (USD 9.16)...Read More

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Kenya

Pwani Value Chain Analysis in Coastal Kenya

A Value Chain Analysis by Farm Concern International with support from Tearfund in Coastal Kenya revealed low commercialization among smallholder farmers for all crops (Maize, Cassava, Green grams, Coconut, Cashew Nut, and Pineapples) apart from chilli which was grown only for commercial purposes. Smallholder farmers in Kilifi County produce 149,007MT of maize although a production gap 315,894MT is still persistent. Approximately 7,667MT of cowpea are produced which indicates a production gap of 4,294MT while 37,954MT of cassava are produced by smallholder farmers within Kilifi County although a production gap of 67,474 MT is being experienced among smallholder farmers.....Read More

Value Chain Validation Assessment for the USAID- Feed the Future, Kenya Agricultural Value Chain Enterprises Programme

According to the assessment conducted by Farm Concern International, FCI for the USAID- Feed the Future, Kenya Agricultural Value Chain Enterprises (KAVES) project in 22 Counties, smallholder and value chain profitability for maize is highly limited. The validation was conducted for thirteen-(13) priority value chains targeted and the assessment aimed at offering critical highlights on markets offering viable opportunities. The maize value chain is dominated by informal wholesale traders (33.3%), informal retailers (26.7%) and consumers (6.7%) as compared to formal retailers (supermarkets) & institutions (6.7%). Formal companies received maize from informal traders (42%), farmer deliveries (30%) as opposed to formal buyers aggregating maize at the farm gate (7%)...Read More

Productivity and Profitability Analysis - Kenya Coastal Region

Huge yield gaps are persistent for all the crops grown by small scale farmers in the coastal region. Although horticultural production can only be done under irrigation supplementation given the agro ecological condition of the Kenyan coastal region, use of good agricultural practices and increased use of yield enhancing inputs would earn farmers huge profits especially for tomatoes, sweet pepper, ABE chilli, cassava, kales and water melon...Read More

Input Suppliers and brokers are key Players in the Maize Value Chain

Farm Concern International conducted a Validation Value Chain Assessment survey under the USAID Feed the Future: Kenya Agricultural Value Chain Enterprises, KAVES Project to supplement and validate data already available from Government agencies and other studies. The desk review, field and trade survey was aimed at identifying the gaps and opportunities along the target value chains....Read More

Numerous Opportunities available in the Maize Value Chain

Maize is the most important staple crop in Kenya and is grown in both the low and high altitude agricultural zones. Despite the fore mentioned status that maize has earned in Kenya, there still exists numerous opportunities for development stakeholders and investors to venture in maize production, marketing and processing. Farm Concern International conducted a Validation Value Chain Assessment survey under the USAID Feed the Future: Kenya Agricultural Value Chain Enterprises, KAVES Project to supplement and validate data already available from Government agencies and other studies....Read More

Retailers are the biggest gainers in the maize supply chain

Maize is the single most important crop in Kenya, as even the communities that had traditional staple foods previously continually adopt it as the staple food. Needless to say, there is expanding demand for maize amidst shrinking arable land due to fragmentation and construction of other infrastructure leading to scarcity. However, this situation has not translated to increased income for farmers who labour to meet the high market demand in Kenya...Read More

Smallholder Farmers should adopt good Post-harvest practices for increased income

Low income for small holder farmers has been a song sang in Kenya since time immemorial. Indeed this has become a definitive part of our agricultural system. Farm Concern International conducted a Validation Value Chain Assessment survey under the USAID Feed the Future: Kenya Agricultural Value Chain Enterprises, KAVES Project to supplement and validate data already available from Government agencies and other studies.The survey revealed that the main postharvest management for sweet potatoes are grading (29.4%) followed by packaging (23.6%) and sorting (23.5%)..Read More

Tanzania

Assessment of Value Chain Postharvest Practices and Possible Interventions in Tanzania

According to a study conducted by Farm Concern International to assess the post harvest handling practices of small scale farmers in Siha, Hai, Arusha and Meru districts, there were poor post harvest techniques that were observed in Hai and Siha Districts. Curing of onions in Kawaya village and potatoes in Ngarenairobi was not done as is required for the two crops. Carrots and tomatoes on the other hand were packed with dirt. Onions were observed to have thick necks which were as a result of the pre harvest conditions while potatoes were not cured. It was also reported during Focus Group Discussions (FGD) that crates of tomatoes were heaped one on top of the other, causing mechanical injury on the tomatoes at the bottom of the pile. These are issues which require to be addressed through capacity building of farmers and traders...Read More

Tanzania Domestic Market Outlook: A focus on bean trade in Arusha and Kilimanjaro region

Beans are the third largest produced crop in Tanzania after maize and cassava. The main production areas are in the Northern Zone particularly Arusha, Kilimanjaro and Manyara region. Farm Concern International (FCI) with funds from HiVos through Agri-Nutrition for Coffee Zone in Tanzania undertook a rapid market opportunity assessment on commercialization and agri-trade of various agro-food commodities. This brief provides key highlights of the beans market in Tanzania based on findings from markets in Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions...Read More

Tanzania Market Outlook: A focus on onion trade in Arusha and Kilimanjaro region

The local markets account for a very huge part of the markets for horticulture production in Tanzania. A study conducted by Farm Concern International (FCI) with funds from World Vision Tanzania and Canadian International Development Aid (CIDA) through the Market-led Agriculture Project established that, the domestic market account for 65% of onions produced in Tanzania. This brief provided insight of the nature of the onion trade in Tanzania focusing on Arusha and Moshi markets...Read More

Market Outlook Tanzania: Agri-trade in Arusha & Kilimanjaro regions

This brief provides market information and in depth analysis on the agricultural and horticultural commodities traded in Arusha and Moshi markets.  The content here in is derived from a Rapid Market Assessment conducted in 7 markets across Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions by Farm Concern International (FCI) with funds from HiVos through Agri-Nutrition for Coffee Zone in Tanzania project...Read More

Banana, the new found ‘gold’  in Madibo market, Dar es Salam

Banana is now the new ‘gold’ benefitting both traders and smallholder farmers in traditional informal markets. Madibo Urafiki, market in Tanzania trades bananas valued at USD 4,750,995 per week by 271 traditional informal traders [Findings from SeFaMaCo Landscape report funded by the Gates Foundation] Smallholder farmers’ and informal markets are key to Africa’s food security and improved livelihoods.  In Africa, agricultural marketing begins at the level of individual smallholder farmer, since as producers, they also consume part of what is produced and some marketed...Read More

Somaliland

Value Chain Analysis (VCA) in Somaliland

According to a Value Chain Analysis (VCA) study undertaken by Farm Concern International on behalf of FAO Somalia, the major challenges that farmers in Somaliland encounter in agricultural production and marketing were indicated as lack of transport and high cost of transport indicated by over 90% of the farmers, lack of market information (85.8%), poor infrastructure including lack of proper storage facilities (81.1%) and low pricing 61.3%. All these factors point out to two main issues; the long distance to the markets makes farmers transport commodities for long distances and poor infrastructure making the cost of transport high. Flow of market information is also inadequate and ultimately market access is limited for farmers while low pricing further inhibits farmers from investing in agricultural enterprises since profitability is suppressed....Read More

Banana market research data unlocks viable business opportunity for smallholder farmers

Banana production is concentrated in the South of Somalia, where an ingenious system of barrages and dams provides over 130,000 ha with access to 'gravity irrigation' from river water from the Ethiopian highlands. The production is concentrated in Balad, Afgoye, Awdegle and Janaale districts of Middle Shebelle and Lower Shebelle regions where Farm Concern International jointly with FAO- Somalia funded by European Union has been implementing a Rural Commercialization project since 2012...Read More

Zanzibar

Cassava Informal Market Summary

Cassava production in Zanzibar is a major enterprise for farmers. Farm concern International profiled five main cassava wholesale informal markets with statistics showing that there were 16 wholesale traders moving a total of 3,144.2 MT of cassava and cassava products valued at USD 979,685 although the annual market potential estimated at 8,328.6 MT. During the low supply season, the price of one kilogram of fresh cassava is USD 0.27 (Tsh 531.4) compared to average price of USD 0.06 during high supply season.  Most of the smallholder farmers sell their cassava direct to brokers whose best price for a kilogram of fresh cassava during low supply season is only 0.13 (Tsh 270)....Read More

Ethiopia

Smallholder farmers’ potential to  feed the world through Sweet potato and Bananas

The estimated farm gate value of sweet potato and bananas is USD 371 Million and USD 2 billion respectively. Their potential to feed the world is set to increase following the Seed-Farmer-Market Consumer (SeFaMaCo) Programme interventions by Farm Concern International with funding from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Agriculture is the main industry in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA), employing 65% of Africa’s labor force and contributing about a third of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Agriculture is mostly done by smallholder farmers who own about 2 hectares or less of land....Read More

Uganda

Smallholder farmers’ potential to  feed the world through Sweet potato and Bananas

The estimated farm gate value of sweet potato and bananas is USD 371 Million and USD 2 billion respectively. Their potential to feed the world is set to increase following the Seed-Farmer-Market Consumer (SeFaMaCo) Programme interventions by Farm Concern International with funding from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Agriculture is the main industry in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA), employing 65% of Africa’s labor force and contributing about a third of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Agriculture is mostly done by smallholder farmers who own about 2 hectares or less of land....Read More

Rwanda

Value Chain Analysis and Small holder Commercialization Opportunities Study in Rwanda

According to a Value Chain Analysis and Small holder Commercialization Opportunities Study in Rwanda conducted by Farm Concern International under the Value Chains, Enterprises Development, Market Access and Commercialization (VEMAC) Programme funded by World Vision Rwanda, 8,747MT of maize is available for commercialization although only 3,853MT is sold indicating a commercialization index of 44%. In addition 5,587MT of beans, 15,413MT of sweet potatoes, 16,569MT of bananas and 38,533MT of potatoes are available for commercialization. However, farmers on average consume all the beans, sell only 3,083MT of sweet potatoes, 6,936MT of bananas and 11,560 MT of potatoes representing commercialization of 0%, 20%, 42% and 30% for beans, sweet potatoes, bananas and potatoes, respectively...Read More

Malawi

Value Chain Analysis in Malawi across four Area Programmes of Nkhoma & Chilenje AP (Lilongwe district), Nthondo AP in Ntchisi district and Chikwina-Mpamba in Nkhata-Bay district

A value chain Analysis conducted by Farm Concern International, FCI in Malawi revealed that the total annual market size for the target commodities across the sampled markets is estimated at USD 5,214,234 which is only 38% of the total market capacity. This means that there exists an unmet demand for the target commodities in the sampled markets valued at USD 8,488,753 annually. Fruits and vegetables worth USD 1,404,187 are annually traded across the sampled informal wholesale markets which is only 16% of the market capacity. Fish worth USD 2,029,368 and roots and tubers worth USD 393,608 are traded annually accounting for only 51% and 34% of the market capacity. However, the market findings indicated that informal markets are usually oversupplied with grains and legumes where 3,419MT of legumes and grains are supplied in the informal markets against the market capacity of 2,174MT which is 157% of what is demanded by the market....Read More

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1. Breaking Barriers to Scale Up for 461,232 Direct Smallholder Farmers Report

Seed-Farmer-Market-Consumer [SeFaMaCo] Integrated Value Chain Programme implemented in Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia has opened an unprecedented platform for experiential data gathering through action research embedded in the implementation process. The 461,232 Smallholder Farmers in 1,242 Commercial Villages in the programme are contributing towards a wealth of data on growth pathways as they participate in markets. These emerging data sets through reports and data learning forums which are shared with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, partners and farmers are aimed at increased utilization of statistics on revealing complex dynamics that smallholder farmers contend with and market unpredictability that value chain actors deal with every day for enhanced design of interventions, strategies and policies...Read More

2. How Dynamics of Learning are Linked to Innovation Support Services: Insights from a Smallholder Commercialization Project in Kenya

A publication by the Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension in 2013, on how the dynamics of learning are linked to Innovation Support Services; with insights from a Smallholder Commercialization Project implemented by Farm Concern International, FCI in Kenya..

3. Kenyan farmers reap benefits from better marketing

A publication by Farm Africa in 2009, on Maendeleo Agricultural Technology Fund (MATF) programme implemented by Farm Concern International Onion farmers in the area of Endarasha, in Nyeri, have formed 'commercial villages' which means they have shifted part of their farming system from being subsistence to the commercial production of onions for the market. Traditional practices of resource management are replaced by market oriented practices with the aim of achieving higher yields, higher incomes and improved food security. With the improved earnings, farmers have been able to raise their own standards of living with some putting up better houses, purchasing land and paying school fees.

4. Promotion of traditional African Vegetables in Kenya and Tanzania: a case Study of an intervention representing emerging imperatives in global nutrition 

Promotion of Traditional African Vegetables in Kenya and Tanzania: A Case Study of an Intervention Representing Emerging Imperatives in Global Nutrition, May 2010. A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Cornell University This research was done in the context of an agricultural program promoting production, marketing, and consumption of traditional African vegetables (TAVs) in central Kenya (Kiambu district) and northern Tanzania (Arusha region). The study aims were (1) to evaluate the effect of the program on diet and nutrition of participating smallholder farmer households, and (2) to examine broader questions of how traditional knowledge and crop diversity are related to smallholder farmers’ diet quality.

5. Analysis of markets for African leafy vegetables within Nairobi and Its Environs and implications for On-farm conservation of biodiversity  

African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs) are important sources of essential macro and micro-nutrients. In addition they offer a source of livelihood when marketed, and also contribute to crop biodiversity. Despite these positive aspects, only a few ALVs are grown, marketed and consumed in Kenya. This study analyses the ALV market in Nairobi and the neighbouring areas, highlighting the factors that enable or inhibit its development. Furthermore, the study determined different factors influencing inter- and intra-specific on-farm biodiversity, with a focus on the role of ALV market development.

6. Socio-economic assessment of four MATF-Funded Projects 

7. The Power of Farmers Organizations in Smallholder Agriculture in East Africa 

8. African indigenous vegetable enterprises and market access for small-scale farmers in East Africa

9. Commercial Villages: Improving Market Access

In Endarasha, near Nyeri, Kenya, onions are the main cash crop, but with poor access to markets many smallscale farmers like Ngatia Waithaka find themselves at the mercy of middlemen, who offer farmers low prices for their produce. Selling his onions in small quantities to brokers, Waithaka used to earn just Ksh 8,000 (US$100) per season from his half hectare plot. By joining a 'commercial village', he has seen his earnings increase ten-fold.

10. A Commercial Village Brings Business to Poor Kenyan Farmers

BUSIA, Kenya, Jan 19 2016 (IPS) - High incidents of poverty coupled with decreasing land acreage amid a changing climate pouring havoc on weather patterns has compelled farmers in the Tangakona area of Busia County in western Kenya to embrace an innovative initiative to improve livelihoods. The farmers cultivate cassava and orange fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP,) both of which are drought resistant, under an initiative that involves value addition to the two tuber crops and is dubbed a “Commercial Village. "

11. Kenya farmers increase yields and income with commercial villages

A market and commercialization intervention is steadily gaining ground in Kenya allowing small holder farmers bypass the dubious middlemen to access markets for their produce directly, a breakthrough that has now seen farmers triple seasonal earnings. In Nyeri area in Central Kenya, onions are the main cash crop, but with poor access to markets many smallscale farmers like Ngatia Waithaka find themselves at the mercy of middlemen, who offer farmers low prices for their produce. Selling his onions in small quantities to brokers, Waithaka used to earn a paltry $80 per season from his half hectare plot. By joining a 'commercial village', he has seen his earnings increase ten-fold. "

12. African Leafy Vegetables Evolve From Underutilized Species To Commerciak Cash Crops

Pro-poor market development initiatives applied by Farm Concern International, FCI, are aimed at triggering innovative market driven and private sector initiatives aimed at developing a sustainable smallholder commercial production of African Leafy Vegetables, ALVs. The implementation approach was designed to allow FCI an opportunity to enhance the capacity of smallholder farmers to competently outsource business development services, negotiate with value chain players, gather market information from various value chain players and effectively sustain buyer partnerships. ‘Enhanced Market Access for ALVs’ is an innovative programme implemented by FCI, in collaboration with various stakeholders and with support from Rockefeller Foundation, Gatsby-UK, Farm Africa and USAID. FCI market development approach was benchmarked to private sector approach offering a market opportunity for over 2,700 smallholders."

13. Cassava - A New Image

Recognizing the potential of cassava as the ‘poverty and drought fighter’ crop in Africa, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and Farm Concern International have launched a 3 year program that will help 30,000 small holder farmers in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania increase cassava for food and industrial use by processing it at village level."

14. Crop Diversification Changing Fortunes for Commercial Village Farmers in Malawi

In Thyolo and Zomba districts in Malawi where Farm Concern International (FCI) is implementing the Domestic Horticulture Marketing (DoHoMa) project, farmers used to grow maize predominantly as a one season crop prior to the intervention. However , following intense commercialization campaigns and Village Business Forums conducted by FCI during the roll-out phase of the project and continuously , this farming orientation is drastically changing.

15. Farm Concern International catches the President’s eye at the Central Kenya Agricultural Society of Kenya Show

It is one thing to be going about your business doing what you know to do best with a passion and quite another thing to be instantly thrust into the limelight,literally sharing the stage with the President of the Republic of Kenya!

16. Butagaya Sub-County: Farmers reap the rewards of improved grain handling

For Jinja grain trader Mr Daniel Mpugi, business is a matter of luck from one season to another. There is always uncertainty about the quality of grain he is purchasing because when the consignments are not up to standard it translates into financial loss and sheer wastage.

17. Good times come to Onion farmers in Kieni West

It was a chilly morning in August 2011 when Samuel Kingori went to inspect his onion nursery bed that had only been completed the previous day. He was soon hard at work, broadcasting the hybrid onion seeds wearing a big smile on his face and every action exuding confidence in the outcomes to be expected in the days ahead. A lot has changed in terms of onion nursery management since FCI’s DoHoMa intervention in his Embaringo village.

18. The day the Rockefeller Vice President came calling at Mbuvo Commercial Village

There were two good reasons to celebrate the day Heather Grady came calling in Mbuvo. First the Community in Mbuvo takes great pride in hosting guests from near and far, and Heather, the Vice President of the Rockefeller Foundation had travelled thousands of kilometers from New York City to keep her appointment with the members of the Mbuvo Commercial Village Cassava Processing Project (CVPP).

19. Rwanda: A Revolution of Sorts in the Irish Potato Trade for Tarmers and Traders

The first three weeks of August 2011 marked a history of sorts for Irish potato wholesalers and farmers in Kigali, with the former venturing out to make direct purchases from the latter. That single decision had several immediate and beneficial impacts for both traders and farmers: First to go was the 2000 FRw (US$ 3.3) ‘tax’ levied by the brokers on each delivery vehicle coming into the collection centre also known as Igitikinyoni. According to the President of Kimirinko Wholesalers Association, 45-year old Mr Ntizinduka J. Baptist, in the past neither traders nor farmers were exempt from paying the charges.

20. Rwanda: Farmers reap the benefits of better trading relations

Lately, Mrs Nyirakanyange Josephine isn’t complaining. The mother of five and member of Twiyubake Commercial Producer Group within Karambi Commercial Village is using the training from Farm Concern International to grade her Irish potato harvest and win a good market. So far she has sold 10 sacks of mixed potatoes, weighing in at 1,450 kg at FRw 90 per Kg making resulting in a total of FRw 130,500 (US $ 217.5). She also sold ten sacks of big potatoes weighing in at 1,400 kgs worth FRw 147,000 (US$ 245).

21. Samson Kamputa – Blantyre Market, Malawi

Samson Kamputa 32, also popularly known as Jam 2 among other traders is a prominent Irish potato businessman trading at Blantyre market. He has been in business for the last nine years. Every now and again and when he is sure that the profits are worthwhile, he diversifies his portfolio to supply garlic to Indian clients. For Samson, the bottom line must make sense.

22. Toto Care - Mobile Day Care Units for Commercial Villages

Not too long ago, Mrs Wangari Wakalenju, was unable to participate effectively in the affairs of her Commercial Village where she is also a member of the Social Welfare Committee. She is a member of Githathimwa Commercial Village, Kamukombiini location, located in Kiambu County nearly 65 kilometres west of Nairobi, Kenya.

23. Commercial Village Storage Case Studies

Up until the 1980s and 90s, the traditional grain storage basket known locally as Mururu was a permanent fixture in the households of subsistence farmers throughout Tharaka district and the Larger Meru County. Farmers harvested a variety of locally grown cereals, which they dried thoroughly before storing the bulk of it in the Mururu (pictured). Seeds were similarly stored in smaller airtight earthenware pots and sealed in at the mouth with cow dung and mud.

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