Iddrisu Hamida Enterprise runs two farms (of 12 acres and 20 acres) on which it grows maize, legumes and vegetables for crop and seed sales. It also aggregates crops from 1,600 smallholder out-growers (of which 40% are women) across three districts, with each farmer cultivating an average of 5 acres. The company provides its smallholders with agro-inputs, tractor and shelling services; it also organises training and demonstrations. Iddrisu Hamida Enterprise supplies and buys seed and fertiliser from Eighteenth April, Antika Company Limited and A. Issahaku Agro-chemicals. It was awarded District Best Farmer in 2017 and Best Vegetable Producer (Cucumber and Okro) in 2018 and 2017 respectively. The company joined the MADE programme in 2016, and since then has aggregated 150,000 MT of produce.
MADE interventions
- Introduced the Advanced Business Model, which enabled Iddrisu to offer a bundle of inputs and services to smallholder farmers.
- Recruited, trained and deployed five Farm Enterprise Advisors (FEAs) and one FEA manager.
- Facilitated a commercial partnership with the lead firm Antika Company Limited, from whom Iddrisu buys fertiliser and pays in kind with seed.
- Facilitated links with tractor services.
- Introduced insurance for farmers.
- Facilitated linkages with extension services from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for remote, underserved farmers.
Impacts
- Increased smallholder farmer outreach from 550 in 2015 to nearly 1,600 in 2019.
- Increased understanding among farmers on how to improve their agricultural methods.
- Increased smallholder farmers’ access to inputs on credit.
- Raised maize yields for smallholder farmers between 2016 and 2019: 8 to 20 bags (100 kg) per acre of maize and 3 to 10 bags (100 kg) per acre of cowpea.
- Facilitated timely application of inputs (fertiliser and weedicides).
- Improved financial forecasting and planning for smallholders.
