Page 92 - AFAP Success Stories 2020

AFAP-Supported Hub Agrodealers in

Realising the Potential of Organized Farmer

Groups

Access to agricultural inputs for smallholder farmers established that smallholder farmers travel considerable
has always been a challenge in Malawi. Despite the distances to access fertilizer and other agricultural inputs,
government support through the farm input subsidy which adds significant transportation costs. Through this
programme (FISP), not all smallholder famers have access new arrangement, the Hub Agrodealer delivers inputs to
to the subsidy programme. Smallholder farmers from Jere a village’s central point where registered farmers can buy
Village in TA Kampingo Sibande in Mzimba have not been them during the agricultural season.
an exception to this challenge. In an attempt to improve It is also encouraging to note that the group has now
their access to finance, farmers from the village formed transformed into Jalawe Farmers Group and it is taking
the Jalawe Village Loans and Savings group. The group leading roles in the Hub Agrodealers’ demand-creation
provided loan assistance to its members by buying shares activities. During the 2019 winter season, Jalawe Farmers
as capital, which would thereafter be shared as dividends Group, with support from the Hub Agrodealer, actively
and used to purchase farm inputs. The group was formed participated in winter demonstrations.
in 2018 with an initial membership of 30 (five men and 25
women). The winter demonstrations were set up as part of
the project implementation for the Hub Agrodealer
In May 2019, Rose Harris identified the group through development programme in Malawi. As part of the project
its extension and demand-creation activities in the area. intervention, the AFAP-supported Hub Agrodealers are
Rose Harris is trading as Tiwonge Investments in the mandated to establish demonstration plots as a demand-
northern part of Malawi. After consultations with the creation initiative for their products, primarily fertilizer.
members, an agreement was reached on how the Hub The demonstration plots are also serving as awareness
Agrodealer could incorporate Jalawe into its existing demonstrations for the 23:10:5:6s +1Zn new N:P:K
inputs distribution programme.
blanket fertilizer formulation released by the government
The Hub Agrodealer operates “Inputs pakhonde”, literally of Malawi in 2018. The plots also help promote best
meaning “Inputs at your doorstep”. The programme agronomic practices.
was developed by Tiwonge Investments, when it was

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