CUSTOM AGRICULTURE CHALLENGE; MALAWI
PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED
Quality seeds and other key inputs for rural farmers through a franchised agro dealer network and a youth agent network.
Learn more about the Custom Agriculture Challenge and why distributing proven agricultural interventions can greatly improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION
Mlimi Agro Hub distributes quality farm inputs, including fertilizer, seeds and post-harvest storage bags, to smallholder farmers and supports them with extension services on better agronomic practices through village savings groups, farmer cooperatives, and existing hardware stores.
Mlimi Agro Hub model has three main components that include, engaging owners of hardware stores nearer to smallholder farmers as sales agents, providing asset-based loan service to farmers belonging to Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA), and involving lead farmers in the dissemination of information to smallholder farmers on better agronomic practices. Our model addresses major reasons limiting smallholder farmers from accessing quality agricultural inputs and the reasons are limited access to agriculture loan, long distances to agro-dealer shops located in towns and lack of knowledge on better agronomic practices like fertilizer micro-dosing and correct plant spacing.
Mlimi Agro Hub was founded by Gilbert Banda, Wilson Nkhata, and Marko Chiumia. The team members have knowledge and experience in the agriculture sector in Malawi.
PILOT AND SCALING GOALS
Reach 100 smallholder farmers during the pilot period
Raise additional $10,000 by the end of the pilot period
Reach 2,500 farmers by the end of year 1
Reach 8,500 farmers by the end of year 2
FOUNDING TEAM
Gilbert Chikwama Banda - Managing Director
Wilson Nkhata - Sales & Operations Manager
Marko Chiumia - Business Development Manager