The goal of the Malawi Agrodealer Strengthening Program (MASP) is to improve farmer incomes and productivity for households in isolated, underserved rural regions by linking them to improved agricultural inputs, new production technologies, credit and marketing channels through a commercial network of rural agrodealers.

Through our local affiliate, RUMARK, CNFA is continuing its track record of success in Malawi by working effectively with key financial institutions, commercial input suppliers and well-established leadership in key agricultural inputs associations. CNFA/RUMARK has designed an aggressive program to extend the agrodealer network to isolated underserved rural areas, link farmer practices to improvements in crop genetics and soil fertility, increase the flow of credit to rural areas, link smallholder farmers to cash markets and increase the role of the private sector in policy advocacy. In order to achieve these goals, RUMARK focuses on the following core components:

• Business Management Training
• Demand Creation Activities
• Improved Access to Credit through the Credit Guarantee
• Matching Grants
• Technical Training on Product Handling and Safe Use
• Policy Advocacy and Association Development

Following a detailed assessment on the business challenges and opportunities among the prospective agrodealers in the underserved areas in Malawi, it was noted that most of the agrodealers are located in urban and semiurban areas. There was considerable need to extend the agrodealer activities to the most remote areas of Malawi. CNFA conducted a customer survey to measure the level to which project objectives were being achieved and the findings were used as a guide to project management. Activities were then realigned with the program’s overarching goal to increase smallholder farmers’ agricultural productivity, incomes and food security.

Accomplishments:

In the first half of MASP project implementation, RUMARK has built upon previous success and achieved the following results as of November 30, 2008:

• 1,012 additional agrodealers trained and certified in business management skills
• 287 farmer field days featuring 10 supply companies and attended by over 32,000 farmers
• $1.18 million in input supply credit leveraged through the guarantee facility
• 52 matching investments valued at $326,992 have been issued to support agrodealer start-ups, add on services and output market development
• 9 technical trainings on product handling and safe use attended by 267 agrodealers
• 29 associations advocating for agrodealer interests created and supported
  

Related Links

Agrodealer Improves Income, Shares Expertise with Customers

Program Overview: Agrodealer Strengthening Programs in Africa

Updated 11/2008