AgDevCo

The SDU operates alongside AgDevCo’s core activity of providing long-term debt and equity to SMEs.

Our brochure gives an overview of what we do and how we work. This version was updated in June 2018 and gives details of our portfolio and impact as of this date. Our brochure also includes six short case studies which provide a deeper insight into the impact that our investments have on agribusinesses, rural livelihoods, and agro-economies. Available in both French and English.

Téléchargez ici notre brochure “Construire l’agriculture de demain en Afrique, pour un impact durable". Download the French version of AgDevCo’s brochure here.

Aiming to raise farmer incomes by increasing yields by 50%, 10,000 smallholder farmers are benefitting from video-based technical support and training on good agricultural practices. This baseline report discovered approximately half (49%) of farmers surveyed were living below the food poverty line.

With support from AgDevCo’s Smallholder Development Unit (SDU), the scheme aims to benefit over 4,000 farmers. Over the course of three years, household incomes are expected to increase by up to $200 per annum. This baseline survey indicates the poverty rate of Tropha households (37%) is still slightly higher than the national poverty rate (32%), and the poorest of the poor are more likely to be living in female-headed households.

Improving extension services with a non-recoverable investment of $335,000 aims to raise the annual average income of smallholder farmers by 131% by 2021. The farmers surveyed are generally poorer than the population of Tanzania as a whole – 24% were living below the national poverty line.  

AgDevCo’s Smallholder Development Unit is supporting GADC to provide microloans and training to build financial skills, with the aim of stabilising household incomes, and improving productivity. The VSLA members are generally poorer than the population of Uganda as a whole, with 20% of members  found to be living below the national poverty line for Uganda. When asked, 13% of respondents reported to having eaten only one meal the previous day.

Rungwe Avocado Company (RAC) is investing in Tanzania’s avocado production to reach international market standards. RAC outgrowers will benefit from AgDevCo’s Smallholder Development Unit support through improved extension services. The goal is for 75% of avocados  procured  from smallholder farmers to be of export quality.

Our team in Malawi provides regular support to management to strengthen governance, operations and financial performance. The company is working directly with farmers to increase productivity and reduce aflatoxin levels, through an extension programme supported by our Smallholder Development Unit.

Our investment in Afri-Oils, is helping to revive Malawi’s peanut industry. 

In this blog post, Sandi Roberts explains three practical steps agribusinesses can take to help close the gender gap in smallholder outgrower schemes. 

Case study of AgDevCo’s impact at GADC.