Harvest Guard Solutions (HGS)
Harvest Guard Solutions (HGS)’s mission is to empower smallholder farmers with affordable, innovative post-harvest technologies and pre-harvest financial support, reducing food losses, enhancing food security, and increasing household incomes.
Post-Harvest Support CHALLENGE; Malawi
PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED
Post-Harvest Support
Learn more about the Post-Harvest Support Challenge and why an evidence-based model that distributes post-harvest loans and improved grain storage bags could reliably boost the standard of living for smallholder farmers.
DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION
Harvest Guard Solutions (HGS)’s mission is to empower smallholder farmers with affordable, innovative post-harvest technologies and pre-harvest financial support, reducing food losses, enhancing food security, and increasing household incomes.
HGS’s model combines affordable post-harvest technologies with pre-harvest financial support, delivered through local Village Savings and Loan Associations. Trained village agents manage groups of farmers, ensuring accountability and facilitating payments, while farmers access PICS bags and small loans to protect their harvests. This integrated approach strengthens local distribution networks, reduces post-harvest losses, and increases incomes, providing a scalable framework for expansion beyond the pilot.
The HGS team includes Vanex Kamanga, Charity Manyowa, and Elizabeth Phiri, each playing a key role in the organization. Vanex will lead overall operations, coordinate farmer engagement, and ensure effective distribution of PICS bags. Charity will manage market strategies, farmer training programs, and support VSLAs to strengthen local networks, while Elizabeth will oversee financial management, pre-harvest loans, and repayment systems. Together, they will implement the pilot in Dowa District, directly engaging farmers and building a scalable model to reduce post-harvest losses and improve rural livelihoods.
PILOT AND SCALING GOALS
Directly reach 500 smallholder farmers within three months.
Using 4 high-performing distribution agents, distribute 5,000 PICS bags and pre-harvest loans in three months.
Raise $7800 in additional funding.
FOUNDING TEAM
Vanex Ian Kamanga - Founder
CornHouse
CornHouse’s mission is to uplift Cameroonian rural maize farmers through better storage, finance and market access.
Post-Harvest Support CHALLENGE; Cameroon
PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED
Post-Harvest Support
Learn more about the Post-Harvest Support Challenge and why an evidence-based model that distributes post-harvest loans and improved grain storage bags could reliably boost the standard of living for smallholder farmers.
DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION
CornHouse’s mission is to uplift Cameroonian rural maize farmers through better storage, finance and market access.
The pilot will take place in Ndop, Northwest Cameroon, where they will distribute PICS bags through trusted women group leaders, helping farmers preserve more maize for longer periods. Stored maize becomes collateral for $50–$100 microloans, delivered through partner microfinance institutions. After the storage period, CornHouse connects farmers to high-value markets, ensuring they sell at peak prices. What sets CornHouse apart is its unwavering commitment to farmer prosperity, reducing post-harvest losses, unlocking credit, and maximising income. CornHouse doesn’t just provide tools; it unlocks the true value of what farmers already own.
CornHouse was founded by Rodrigue Jinyuy Birka, a sustainable development economist with a strong commitment to advancing rural livelihoods. He serves as the Managing Director, leading a dedicated team united by a shared vision to empower smallholder farmers in Cameroon.
PILOT AND SCALING GOALS
Directly reach 200 rural maize farmers within three months.
Distribute 2,000 PICS bags and 200 micro-loans in 3 months through 10 women group leaders and partner MFI, NgoCCUL.
Raise $40,000 to $120,000 in additional funding to support operations and scale.
FOUNDING TEAM
Rodrigue Jinyuy Birka - Managing Director
FarmHive Trading Zambia Limited
FarmHive Trading Zambia Limited will reduce post-harvest losses for rain-fed farmers and enhance regional food security.
Post-Harvest Support CHALLENGE; Zambia
PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED
Post-Harvest Support
Learn more about the Post-Harvest Support Challenge and why an evidence-based model that distributes post-harvest loans and improved grain storage bags could reliably boost the standard of living for smallholder farmers.
DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION
FarmHive Trading Zambia Limited will reduce post-harvest losses for rain-fed farmers and enhance regional food security.
Their model establishes decentralised storage hubs that improve rural storage, eliminate post-harvest losses and increase access to post-harvest credit.
The initiative targets small-scale farmers who live on $2 a day, have traditional storage infrastructure, and use conventional post-harvest practices. This will preserve harvests for resource-scarce in Katete District, who would otherwise lose 40% of their annual incomes to post-harvest losses.
FarmHive was founded by Patton Kalunga and Isaac Mando who have over 15 years of experience working on agriculture projects with organisations such as USADF, GIZ, and Vision Fund.
PILOT AND SCALING GOALS
Directly reach 50 farmers during the pilot.
Distribute 4 proven interventions.
Fundraise an additional $30,000 USD from new donors and investors within three months.
FOUNDING TEAM
Patton Kalunga - CEO
Isaac Mando - COO
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