Food Security Through Agroinputs Development Project (FOSTAID)

← All ProjectsFood Security Through Agroinputs Development Project (FOSTAID)
Funded By
Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
Impact Area
DR Congo – North Kivu (Beni, Butembo, Bwisha, Goma, Kalehe, Masisi, Nyiragongo, Rutshuru) and South Kivu (Bukavu, Kabare, Uvira, Walungu)
Dates
October 2016 – October 2019
The project is driven by the fact that Agricultural inputs delivery and distribution system in DRC is presently dependent on informal channels since the formal distribution channels are poor and undeveloped. This has lead to unavailability of production inputs and farmers resorting to use of retained grain from previous harvest.
Agrodealers have very limited business management capacities and technical knowledge of agricultural inputs and are not networked with input supply companies for effective sourcing of agricultural inputs. Farmers were found to have limited knowledge and use of yield enhancing inputs and skills and were also found to have a low resource base to enable them purchase the commercial yield enhancing inputs.
Individual working on a farm, tending green crops in a rural field, part of the FOSTAID AGMARK food security and agroinputs project

Goal

Improve smallholder farmers’ food security and livelihoods through enhanced access to and use of improved yield enhancing inputs

Objectives

  • Improve the Agro input supply chain by strengthening the supply chain actors and improving the efficiencies and linkages along the supply chain.
  • Address the demand side of the inputs equation and will entail facilitating increased use of improved agricultural inputs by farmers.
  • Facilitate the establishment of an Agrodealer association.

Activities

The interventions through AGMARK are therefore geared towards:
  • Entrepreneurship management and technical training on product knowledge and safe use agro-input entrepreneurs.
  • Facilitating business linkage meetings between Hub & Rural Agrodealers and input supply companies.
  • Investment support to agro-input entrepreneurs Startups.
  • Agri Input demand creation activities i.e. establishment of demonstration plots, field days, exhibitions, trade fairs, and farmer trainings.
  • Formation of Agrodealer Association(s).

Key Achievements

199
Agrodealers Identified
15
Commercial Trainers Certified
48
Demonstration Plots Established