Page 197 - AFAP Success Stories 2020
P. 197

Key Result/Insight/Interesting Fact                Impact

            On the 9th September 2019, the Fuso truck made its   Smallholder farmers have been able to save, as they
            maiden maize delivery of 12.5MT to Export Trading Group   make a profit of USD0.09 on each kilogram sold. This has
            (a grain off-taker and fertilizer company) and to date   increased their incomes and will improve their livelihoods
            180 MT have been sold from the organized Farmers of   in the long run. To date the farmers have saved
            Pakanyi United Youth Farmers and Tukolehamo farmers.   USD16 200 in total from the 180MT sold and this has been
            These farmers have continued to work together and in   achieved by 55 smallholder farmers who farmed enough
            February 2019,  Tukolehamo farmers started a savings   to aggregate and store some for better markets.
            scheme in which all 40 members have bought shares
            and to date their share capital is 1142. This is expected to   As a Hub Agrodealer, James Musinguzi, director of M & Jm
            grow with the new markets and the transport that M & J   has a buy-in from many loyal customers to sell his inputs
            are availing for their produce. Their plan is to keep saving   but also has a functional and strengthened business and
            until the cropping season starts and M & J can offset the   motivated smallholder farmers whose work will boost the
            cost of fertilizer and other inputs from those savings while   agriculture sector.
            the balance on the inputs can be paid after selling the
            aggregated produce. Currently, the farmers are making
            USD1071 from each delivery they make to the market   Lessons Learned
            since they are selling their own maize. The prices continue   Smallholder farmers have a great contribution to make
            to increase, and they expect more. By the 7 October 2019,   in the agriculture  sector  especially  if they are carefully
            they had sold 180MT.                               guided and if their needs are met as and when they
            Credit services in ploughing services and inputs have   most require this.  They are mobilizing themselves and
            greatly  increased  the  area  under  cultivation  from  an   aggregating the produce to store and benefit from bulk
            average of ¼ acre to now an average of 1.5 acres per   volumes and a good market.
            individual farmer. This has thus increased productivity and
            production.
            The input and output distribution chain have been          We employ 80 people during peak
            improved by M & J Multipurpose Ltd, which has provided   season, and these are majorly women and
            a transport solution, a credit services and a good market
            for sourcing fertilizers and selling of the produce. As M &   youth. But on a permanent basis, I have 15
            J delivers grain to ETG, the company buys fertilizers for its   workers. And with this truck coming, five
            agro-input shop.                                   more jobs have been created.
                                                                James Musinguzi director and proprietor
                                                               of M & J Multipurpose Enterprises Ltd





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