Poverty is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa, with more than 40% of the population living below the poverty line, surviving on incomes of less than $1.90 a day.
That’s where Farm Africa comes in.
Africa possesses 60% of the world's uncultivated land suitable for crop production and has huge capacity for development. Farm Africa believes that Africa has the power to feed itself.
Farm Africa helps farmers grow more, sell more and sell for more. We pioneer techniques that boost harvests, build rural incomes, sustain natural resources and help end Africa’s need for aid.
We work with communities, the private sector and governments to make sure we’re finding the most effective ways to increase food production.
Typically, our staff are from the local area, can speak the local language, and have a deep understanding of the local context.
Our technical experts closely monitor the results of projects, and adapt approaches as needed. Recognising that the private sector has a huge role to play in developing prosperity in rural Africa, we help smallholder farmers to develop links to markets.
What we do
Farm Africa’s local staff provide the tools and expertise to enable smallholders in eastern Africa to increase their harvests, whether they farm crops, livestock, fish or the forest.
We train them to be more commercial, adding value to surpluses by milling, drying, or turning their produce into products that fetch a higher price.
With better food for their families and reliable incomes from their businesses, farmers can build for the future.
How we work
Farm Africa is different. We are a specialist practitioner, focusing on four east African countries and concentrating only on farming.
Our 170 staff on the ground are highly qualified east African experts with a deep understanding of the region.
Sustainability
We promote ‘climate-smart’ approaches so farmers can manage their natural resources sustainably, become more resilient to climate change and build long-term food security.
Practical approach
Our mix of agricultural innovation and training in effective marketing skills equips farmers to grow and earn more.
Through business training and setting up farmers' groups, they can get a higher price for their crops, and by learning how to process and store their produce they reduce waste and have more crop to sell.
We're also piloting mobile technology as a cost effective and efficient way of reaching the largest number of farmers possible.
Spreading knowledge
Farm Africa tests new farming techniques and technologies and trains farmers how to use them. Success breeds success - once trained, farmers pass on their new-found knowledge to others, ensuring our work has an impact well beyond our projects.
By testing farming approaches in the region’s various soils and climates, the evidence we collect is more robust and the techniques we spread are proven to work.
We are developing new, self-sustaining business models, such as:
Sidai - a franchised animal health social enterprise
Enterprise fund - supporting small-scale producers using innovative technologies to improve production
Private sector relationships - connecting barley farmers with business.
Farming without frontiers
Although eastern Africa is widely varied in its landscapes and peoples, there are many common farming problems everyone faces. Our approach is to spread tried-and-tested methods as widely as possible. Farm Africa works on regional projects across more than one country, sharing knowledge without the constraint of country borders.
