Batbak Services aggregates rice, maize, groundnut and soybean, mainly through a network of more than 2,000 smallholder farmers. These smallholders (48% women) farm an average of three (3) acres each over three districts. Batbak sells harvested crops as grain or certified seed to output markets, either directly or through agents. The company is able to provide mechanisation services to its smallholders using its own three tractors with full implements and two combine harvesters. It also provides agro-inputs suitable for cereals, having secured favourable terms and conditions with input dealers. Batbak joined the MADE programme in 2017. In 2018, it aggregated nearly 2,000 MT of produce and made a total net profit of GHS 464,584.
MADE interventions
- Recruited, trained and deployed 10 Farm Enterprise Advisors.
- Enabled Batbak to provide support to underserved farmers using extension services from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
- Facilitated a partnership between Batbak and Rujo Agritrade in order to extend smallholder credit financing for agro-inputs and mechanisation service provision.
- Strengthened relationships between Batbak and AMSIG, a rice- and soybean-processing company which also bought groundnut valued at GHS 50,000 from Batbak in 2018.
- Introduced the Advanced Model: Batbak has invested in land preparation, improved seed, plant nutrition and protection, good agricultural practice and marketing.
Impacts
- Expanded smallholder farmer outreach from 1,000 in 2017 to 2,014 in 2018.
- Increased smallholder farmers’ access to inputs on credit.
- Increased understanding among smallholder farmers on the proper application and use of agro-inputs.
- Facilitated more timely application of agro-inputs on smallholder farms through improved service provision.
- Raised yields for smallholder farmers between 2015 and 2018: 35% for maize, 40% for groundnuts and 100% for soybean.
