Increasing Farmer Incomes through Improved Inputs and Agronomic Practices
Funded by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the $17 million Agrodealer Strengthening Programs (ASP) in Kenya, Malawi, Mali and Tanzania improve farmer incomes and productivity by increasing smallholder access to improved agricultural inputs and better production practices through the strengthening of a rural agrodealer network. Agrodealers, small, often rural, retail stores, are a crucial link in agricultural value chains, providing access to inputs, services, market information, equipment, and credit and cash markets.
In order to foster the sustainability of these agrodealer programs, CNFA develops and strengthens local affiliates to become 
sustainable local NGOs that will operate long after donor funding is withdrawn. Beginning in Kenya with AGMARK, CNFA replicated the model in Malawi with RUMARK, in Tanzania with TAGMARK and in Mali with MALMARK.
Business Management & Technical Training
CNFA certifies agrodealers through a six-module business management training program that includes managing working capital, managing stocks, costing and pricing, selling and marketing, record keeping, and managing business relationships. CNFA also works with input suppliers to develop and deliver technical training to agrodealers in product knowledge, handling and safe use of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, and use of improved seed. Demonstration plots and farmer field days also increase smallholder farmer awareness of, and demand for, improved inputs.
Credit and Financial Services
After certifying agrodealers, CNFA helps them access working capital and trade credit by linking them with input suppliers and microfinance institutions. CNFA backs commercial credit with a 50% credit guarantee, and by leveraging private sector investments, CNFA enhances agrodealers’ access to financing.
Output Marketing
In all of its agrodealer programs, CNFA is strengthening the linkage between input and output distribution channels, and using the rural retailer as a link back to cash markets for their farmer customers. The agrodealer serves as a strategic point in the value chain, ASP provides agrodealers with small matching grants to improve storage facilities, put in small processing facilities, and invest in transportation, packaging, and handling equipment for farmer outputs.
Association Development
Association development forms a core of CNFA’s agrodealer programs by creating a sustainable forum for advocating on behalf of small business agrodealers throughout districts and nationwide. CNFA has helped launch agrodealer associations in Kenya and Tanzania and has built capacity through trainings on organizational management, member services, networking and advocacy and capacity building.
Achievements:
- CNFA works with more than 5,000 agrodealers supplying more than 2 million farmers.
- $110 million in inputs sold through agrodealers
- Value of matching investments: over $2.7 million.
- The CNFA credit guarantee leverages more than $8 million.
Related Links
Program Overview: Agrodealer Strengthening Programs in Africa (PDF)
Updated 6/2009
