Quality Agro Inputs Provision

AGRIMAX assists agro-dealers in establishing demonstration fields to showcase the use of new agro inputs to farmers. This investment, which might be beyond the reach of individual agro-dealers, is crucial for expanding the demand for inputs.

In some cases, input provision, particularly seed marketing, is managed directly by the input manufacturer without involving agro-dealers. Agrimax Africa has experience in direct seed marketing through the Quality Agro Inputs Provision (QAIP) Program. QAIP aims to improve smallholders’ access to quality seeds through both formal and informal seed systems. While informal systems are often neglected by government policies, they account for around 95% of the seeds farmers use. The QAIP Program works on developing community seed management and local seed businesses to strengthen ‘seed entrepreneurship’, improve interactions with formal seed systems, and strengthen links with policymakers.

Agrifarming Development and Training

The Agrifarming Development and Training Program assists small farmers in making informed decisions regarding management strategies, new technologies, sustainability, and competitiveness.

Our training and mentoring programs are designed for farm workers, supervisors, and managers at both introductory and advanced levels, covering all aspects of agricultural production, marketing, and farm management. AGRIMAX partners with organizations that provide education, outreach, and technical assistance to new and beginning farmers on critical topics such as production, marketing, business management, and legal strategies.

Technological advancements have opened up more opportunities for farmers to develop profitable businesses. Small farms, earning less than $50,000 annually or occupying less than 180 acres, are now considered potentially lucrative in both rural and urban areas. Entrepreneurs should explore ventures like bee farms, rooftop gardens, aquaponics, and microgreens.

Smallholders face emerging climatic, health, price, and financial risks, leading many to pursue lower-risk, lower-yielding activities that perpetuate poverty. Breaking this cycle requires transforming smallholders into profitable businesses operating at an efficient scale within agriculture. The Smallholder AgriFarming Support Program provides resources in agriculture, farming, horticulture, crop cultivation, aquaculture, livestock, gardening, subsidies, loans, and sample projects.

Integrated and Model Farming Extension

AGRIMAX partners with organizations to train, educate, and provide technical assistance to new and beginning farmers. Our programs focus on production, marketing, business management, legal strategies, and other critical aspects of running a successful agricultural operation.

Technological advancements have made small farms potentially lucrative business opportunities. Entrepreneurs should consider ventures like bee farms, rooftop gardens, aquaponics, and microgreens.

Smallholders are vulnerable to emerging climatic, health, price, and financial risks. Many pursue lower-risk, lower-yielding activities, which trap them in a cycle of poverty. Transforming smallholders into profitable businesses requires a supportive policy environment. The Smallholder AgriFarming Support Program offers resources in agriculture, farming, horticulture, crop cultivation, aquaculture, livestock, gardening, subsidies, loans, and sample projects.

Market Linkage and Export Promotion

The Farmers Market and Export Promotion Program supports development and marketing activities for farmers’ markets, food hubs, roadside stands, agri-tourism activities, and other producer-to-consumer markets. This program helps small and mid-sized farmers access markets.

Local and regional food systems can be profitable sectors for small and mid-sized farmers. The Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative coordinates AGRIMAX’s work in these systems and serves as a centralized resource for learning about AGRIMAX opportunities.

Agro Financing and Loan Guarantee

Ensuring Smallholder-Friendly Financing and Investment

Transitioning from subsistence to commercially oriented activities requires increased capital and investment flows tailored to smallholder farmers’ needs. Innovative financial services channels and instruments are necessary to support smallholders, including young farmers, during times of both price stability and volatility.

Contract Farming Advancement

With market liberalization, globalization, and expanding agribusiness, small-scale farmers may struggle to participate fully in the market economy. In many countries, smallholder farmers risk marginalization as larger farms become necessary for profitable operations, leading to urban population drift. AGRIMAX addresses these challenges by supporting smallholders through contract farming arrangements.

Value Chain and Postharvest Support

The Smallholder Value Chain Support Program helps farmers and ranchers develop new products, expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income. Priority is given to small and mid-sized family farms, beginning farmers, socially-disadvantaged farmers, and veterans.

AGRIMAX assists producers, agri-entrepreneurs, service providers, and agribusinesses in Africa by providing educational and developmental services and technical support. Our areas of expertise include management, process engineering, business analysis, food technology, wood processing, market evaluation, and feasibility analysis.

Ecological Land Use and Management

Increasing food production to meet the needs of a growing global population must be done without harming the environment. Sustainable land use practices, developed by farmers and through scientific research, focus on understanding land use ecology, maintaining productivity, soil quality, and plant diversity, and ensuring practices are socially acceptable and economically beneficial.

Rural Cooperatives Development (RCD)

The Rural Cooperatives Development (RCD) Program supports Rural Cooperative Development Centres, which provide technical assistance to improve the economic condition of rural areas by supporting the start-up, expansion, or operational improvement of rural cooperatives and other business entities. Cooperatives help small and midsized producers access new markets or add value to their products.

AGRIMAX will create an Interagency Working Group to improve coordination of programs and services between state agencies and national and local cooperatives through the RCD program.