Publication database

This case study showcases the Juhudi Kilimo business which provides asset financing and technical assistance to smallholder farmers throughout Kenya and aims to increase the incomes of the farmers by 50 percent. It outlines how the model works, the business and development impacts to date, and the key success factors.

The report presents a Value Chain Analysis (VCA) of three commodities; tomato, onion and Irish potato, in the Jenda area of Mzimba District, in Malawi. The VCA tool examines the mechanisms and drivers which control the mode by which a product reaches its end market and it gives an understanding of how to improve the competitiveness of the chain whilst increasing participation in a manner that fairly distributes value down the chain.

This case study explains how Notore and Springfield Agro have managed to sell a high quality fertiliser that is more affordable, available and acceptable to poor farmers, with the support of the UK aid-funded Propcom programmes. It discusses the challenges faced by these firms, as they respond to rural consumers’ needs amidst changing market conditions, which are also described.

SNV was engaged by the Danish International Development Organisation (DANIDA) to implement the Rural Agriculture Revitalisation Project- Commercialisation of Smallholder Farmers (RARP CSF), an initiative which seek to facilitate commercialisation of smallholder agriculture  with a view to promote improved household incomes, employment and food security. The project aim was to reach 280,000 smallholder farming households throughout all eight rural provinces in Zimbabwe. The study should serve as a guide for the Government in the formulation of policies that support the development of viable smallholder farmer based horticulture value chains in Zimbabwe.

This briefing paper presents an introduction to the key challenges facing the cocoa industry in Indonesia and Vietnam. It focuses on the current approaches to improve productivity taken by business and identifies opportunities and interventions required for a move to an inclusive business approach.

This paper provides an introduction to the key challenges faced by the shrimp industry and practices in three of the world’s main producing countries: Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. It focuses on small scale fisheries, farmers and processors and identifies possible entry points and interventions for inclusive business opportunities.

This guide offers tips for Finnish SMEs interested in emerging markets, particularly serving the Base of the Pyramid, in highlighting business opportunities, tailoring products and services and showing examples of successful inclusive business models.

In the last few years droughts have been increasingly severe in Kenya. During 2011 alone, livestock pastoralists lost on average a third of their animals due to severe drought. The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) has piloted a new way to protect them – livestock insurance using satellite technology.

This video shows an overview of how VECO supports horticulture farmers in Intibuca, Honduras and how they have increased their income working to deliver products to Walmart.

This case study reviews PrOpCom (Promoting Pro-Poor Opportunities in Commodity and Service Markets), a DFID programme that facilitates functionality and efficiency of Nigerian commodity and service markets to assure these markets benefit the poor. It looks at how PrOpCom set about piloting a new model for the commercial distribution of tractors and the commercial provision of tractor services.