Zug-Faan Enterprise is a female-led agribusiness enterprise that aggregates maize, rice, soybean and groundnut from more than 2,000 smallholder farmers (of whom 36% are women) across six districts. Each farmer cultivates 3.5 acres. The company also provides agro-inputs and services such as ploughing and market access. Zug-Faan was awarded Best Adapting Farmer to New Extension Practices in 2018. The company joined the MADE programme in 2018 and in the same year aggregated 232.6 MT of produce (up from a total of 184.1 MT in 2017).
MADE interventions
- Introduced the Advanced Business Model (planting in rows, use and application of hybrid seeds and fertiliser), which enabled Zug-Faan to offer bundles of inputs and services to smallholder farmers.
- Recruited, trained and deployed five Farm Enterprise Advisors (FEAs) and one FEA manager to register farmers, distribute inputs, create records and monitor performance.
- Facilitated a formalised commercial partnership between Zug-Faan and Wumpini Agro Chemicals Company Limited for the complementary supply of inputs and services.
- Provided support for generating product demand through participation in agricultural fairs.
- Provided demonstrations and training in how to apply fertilisers and pesticides.
- Facilitated and strengthened commercial partnerships with other enterprises such as Bineeya Enterprise and Kanban Farms.
Impacts
- Increased smallholder farmer outreach from 1,600 in 2017 to 2,000 in 2018.
- Increased understanding among smallholder farmers of the proper application and use of agro-inputs.
- Facilitated more timely application of agro-inputs on smallholder farms through improved service provision.
- Increased smallholder farmer access to inputs and services on credit.
- Raised yields for smallholder farmers from 5 to 7 maxi-bags for soybeans and from 5 to 15 maxi-bags for maize, between 2017 and 2019.
