Strengthening Agricultural Input and Output Markets in Africa (SAIOMA)

The project aims to promote inclusive agricultural growth in selected African countries, namely Kenya, Malawi, and Zambia. SAIOMA's primary beneficiaries are rural smallholder farmers, and its approach fosters partnerships among local implementing partners with complementary social, agricultural, and business skills. The project specifically targets four high-potential agricultural value chains in each project country, which include grains and legumes. SAIOMA uses farmer organizations as the main platform for technology and knowledge transfer to smallholder farmers, and is designed to improve operational capacities of farmer organizations, with a specific focus on developing women's skills and opportunities in agribusiness. The project achieves its goals through two specific objectives: SO1, Improve agricultural production, and SO2, Improve smallholder farmers' access to markets. Under SO1, the project works to strengthen the network/outreach of agro-dealers to provide agricultural inputs and technical information to smallholder farmers, thereby increasing availability and distribution of improved seed varieties. Under SO2, the project activities improve the adoption of post-harvest crop management practices by smallholder farmers and improve marketing structures and linkages for SHFs. During the quarter from October 01 to December 31, 2015, the SAIOMA team provided technical and management support to SAIOMA grantees in Kenya, Malawi, and Zambia. The team conducted supervisory visits and provided financial reviews for grantees, and the Finance officer supported SAIOMA grantees to finalize organizational audits. The M&E officer carried out data verification exercises and monitored the sub-partners' implementation progress. Under Objective 1: Improve Agricultural Production, SAIOMA interventions seek to enhance the availability of agricultural inputs and promote good agronomic practices needed for market participation, primarily through rural agro-dealers. The project works through agro-dealers and lead farmers to set up crop fields to demonstrate good agricultural practices, and promotes awareness of various agricultural products, equipment, and material among farmers through farmer field days/exhibitions/input fairs. During this quarter, the project focused on conducting trainings for agro-dealers (in business management and product safety) and farmers groups (raising awareness of improved inputs and practices). The project provided start-up agro-dealers with micro-grants for start-up shops and continued regular monitoring and mentoring of agro-dealers. Specific achievements were as follows: 100 agro-dealers were trained in business management and product safety, and 50 farmers groups were trained in raising awareness of improved inputs and practices. Additionally, 20 start-up agro-dealers received micro-grants for start-up shops. The project's approach under Objective 1 is to strengthen the network/outreach of agro-dealers to provide agricultural inputs and technical information to smallholder farmers, thereby increasing availability and distribution of improved seed varieties. The project also promotes awareness of various agricultural products, equipment, and material among farmers through farmer field days/exhibitions/input fairs. Establishing and using demonstration plots for training has been employed to rapidly build practical experience through hands-on illustration and engagement both of agro-dealers and farmers in adopting good agricultural practice and improved inputs. Under Objective 2: Improve smallholder farmers' access to markets, the project activities improve the adoption of post-harvest crop management practices by smallholder farmers and improve marketing structures and linkages for SHFs. The project promotes awareness of various post-harvest crop management practices among farmers through farmer field days/exhibitions/input fairs, and provides training to farmers groups on post-harvest crop management practices. During this quarter, the project focused on conducting trainings for farmers groups on post-harvest crop management practices, and provided training to farmers groups on contract negotiation and facilitation of transportation arrangements. Specific achievements were as follows: 50 farmers groups were trained in post-harvest crop management practices, and 20 farmers groups were trained in contract negotiation and facilitation of transportation arrangements. Overall, the SAIOMA project has made significant progress in achieving its objectives, particularly in improving agricultural production and smallholder farmers' access to markets. The project's approach has been effective in promoting good agronomic practices and improving the adoption of post-harvest crop management practices among smallholder farmers.