Martins Agribusiness Services produces and aggregates maize, groundnut and soybean from smallholder farmers for sale to processing industries. It is the largest aggregator and supplier of maize and soybean to Kedan Agric Company Limited. The company also supplies maize, groundnut and soybean to interested traders around the Tumu District and across the border (Togo and Burkina Faso). Martins Agribusiness Services works with 1,000 smallholder out-growers (70% women) in three districts, each farming an average of 5 acres. It provides its out-growers with timely mechanised agro-inputs and services such as post-harvest management. It joined the MADE programme in 2017 and has since aggregated 7,000 MT of maize and 14,000 MT of soybean.
MADE interventions
- Recruited, trained and deployed three Farm Enterprise Advisors.
- Supported underserved farmers using extension services from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
- Organised demonstrations and trainings on good ploughing, record keeping and post-harvest management.
- Facilitated relationships between Martins Agribusiness Services and Antika Limited, Great River Company Limited and Innovation without Borders.
- Strengthened commercial partnership between Martins Agribusiness Services and Evelyn Farming Enterprise.
- Introduced the Advanced Business Model.
Impacts
- Increased smallholder outreach from 450 in 2016 to 1,000 in 2019.
- Increased smallholders’ access to markets and agro-inputs on credit.
- Increased understanding of good agricultural practices and proper application of agro-inputs.
- Facilitated timely application of inputs.
- Raised yields for smallholder farmers from an average of 4 to 10 bags (100 kg) per acre for soybean and 8 to 15 bags (100 kg) per acre for maize between 2017 and 2019.
