AGRA

In a world where the demand for food continues to rise, ensuring the availability and effective use of fertilizers has never been more critical.Fertilizer Subsidy Programs (FSPs) are designed to address systemic flaws that limit fertilizer access and availability, subsequently harming soil health and diminishing food system performance.By lowering costs, boosting yields, and improving fertilizer use efficiency, FSPs drive innovations that elevate farmer incomes, enhance livelihoods, and bolster food security.

When managed well, FSPs also promote sustainable farming practices, enhancing soil structure, fertility, and microbial activity in the long run.In 2016/17, AGRA conducted a comprehensive assessment of the marketing and distribution systems for farm inputs, primarily fertilizers, in 11 countries—Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. This assessment resulted in country-specific recommendations aimed at refining the design of FSPs.

A recent review of the FSPs implemented in these 11 countries between 2007 and 2022 highlights the extent to which these programs have integrated AGRA’s 2016/17 recommendations.The review reveals significant gaps and challenges in the design and delivery of FSPs, providing valuable insights and recommendations for policy and investment aimed at enhancing FSP effectiveness in Africa.

Some of the recomedation that were provided were, that an effective FSP Design is key in stimulating new demand and support the growth of existing fertilizer supply chains without displacing commercial sales. It also, encourage competition within fertilizer distribution channels to promote efficiency. Be temporary, with clearly defined exit strategies.

AGRA’s recommendations were both short-term and long-term, aiming to enhance FSP effectiveness by clarifying objectives, eligibility criteria, targeting, exit strategies, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems in the short term. In the long term, AGRA encouraged the replacement of input subsidies with other forms of support.

These recommendations were grouped into three main clusters:

• Program Clarity and M&E Systems: Improving program objectives, eligibility criteria, graduation and exit strategies, and strengthening M&E frameworks.
• Soil Health Linkages: Scaling soil testing and nutrient deficiency mapping, and boosting local production and blending capacity for soil and crop-specific input packages.
• Long-term Agricultural Investments: Aligning FSPs with broader agricultural and rural development investments, such as agricultural R&D, extension services, and infrastructure.
• Implementation Levels Across AGRA Focus Countries: Between 2018 and 2022, Mozambique and Uganda demonstrated the greatest implementation progress, while Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mali, and Tanzania showed limited uptake. Ghana, Malawi, and Rwanda displayed moderate to strong implementation of AGRA’s recommendations.

The journey to revamp FSPs is ongoing. By integrating AGRA’s strategic recommendations, countries across Africa can improve the design and delivery of these programs, ultimately driving sustainable agricultural practices and ensuring food security. Through thoughtful policy and investment, FSPs can serve as catalysts for positive change, fostering innovation, competition, and long-term soil health improvements that benefit farmers and communities alike.

Kamotho Njiru is the founder of Nawiri Plant, a start-up that links farmers directly to consumers and finds a market for their produce.

His agribusiness journey started in a very awkward manner, soon after graduating from campus in 2018.

Njiru, a project planning & management graduate, in partnership with his brother, started farming on their 90-acre family land in Naivasha where they planted potatoes. They jumped into the venture even without doing due diligence to find out how to go about the production of the third most important food crop in the world – potato, and the local market needs.

“We planted potatoes and when harvesting time came, we managed to get 100 tonnes of potatoes. However, we knew not where to take them,” he says.

He adds that he was tasked with the responsibility of looking for a market for their produce. “It was tough. I didn’t even know that I had to seek the services of a broker in order to access buyers at the Marikiti market in Nairobi.”

In the end, Njiru says they did not even recover their production costs.

The Wakulima market or ‘Marikiti’ is one of Kenya’s most bustling and vibrant markets, located in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), and it’s a key hub for trading a variety of farm produce.

The market is controlled by middlemen who operate like a pseudo-government by imposing taxes on hapless farmers and traders and end up pocketing millions of shillings every day through coercion and intimidation.

From this experience, Njiru came face to face with the main challenge facing the majority of small-scale farmers in the country.  That’s how, Nawiri Plant, was conceived, to help to help farmers with market intelligence.

The start-up is also helping farmers to understand current market prices, aiding them to keep track of demand trends, and this is enabling them to adjust their production to match market needs.

Various studies have revealed that middlemen in the agricultural supply chain pretend to bridge the gap between small-scale farmers and the consumers but their mode of doing business is a threat to the farmers.

The real profits go to the middlemen who buy up the farm produce at almost giveaway prices and sell at outrageous prices to the consumers. This attitude of middlemen discourages farmers willing to advance their ventures because of the marginal profits associated with the sector as the middlemen cart away the bulk of the profits.

On 24th September 2024, a landmark occasion unfolded at the Ramada Hotel in Addis Ababa, marking the launch of the Ethiopia-Kenya Pulse Trade Project. Spearheaded by the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) in partnership with AGRA, this innovative initiative aims to catalyze inclusive, export-oriented pulse trade between Ethiopia and Kenya, laying the groundwork for sustainable growth in East Africa.

The event brought together 40 influential stakeholders, including the Ministers of Agriculture, alongside investors, exporters, and farmer unions. United by a common purpose, these leaders pledged to strengthen pulse trade partnerships, acknowledging their essential role in fostering regional integration and economic prosperity.

Dr. Yihenew Zewdie, Country Director of AGRA in Ethiopia, emphasized the critical importance of cross-border trade in advancing the economic interests of Ethiopia, Kenya, and the broader African continent. “By promoting trade across our borders, we are ushering in a new era of regional cooperation that will fuel growth and prosperity for generations to come,” he affirmed.

Echoing this sentiment, Mr. Abera Mulat, Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Agriculture, stated, “Ethiopia proudly leads this transformative initiative, demonstrating regional integration and the immense potential for sustainable agricultural development. Together, we are charting a course towards inclusive growth, focusing on empowering smallholder farmers, women, and youth.” His words resonated with the audience, reinforcing his commitment to inclusivity.

John Macharia, Country Director of AGRA in Kenya, underscored the need to enhance value addition within the pulses sector. “Our ambition is clear: by 2027, we aim to transform raw pulses into higher-value products, ensuring that trade benefits penetrate deep into local communities,” he articulated. This vision of enhancing value chains and promoting innovation in agriculture is central to the project’s mission.

The launch also addressed significant challenges in the sector, such as inefficient market systems, internal conflicts, inflated local prices, and low productivity among small-scale farmers. However, a prevailing sentiment of optimism and determination resonated among stakeholders, with a collective commitment to overcoming these obstacles through robust partnerships, improved market access, and an enabling policy environment.

In a noteworthy announcement, Mr. Gerald Masila, Executive Director of EAGC, revealed that importers and exporters had signed trade intent agreements totaling an impressive 6 million USD, solidifying the project’s early momentum. Furthermore, the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) and the Ethiopian Pulses Oilseeds and Spices Exporters Association (EPOSEA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote structured grain trade, which involves creating a more organized and efficient market for grain transactions. Additionally, it seeks to revolutionize production practices by implementing innovative and sustainable farming techniques. Ultimately, the MoU is to enhance food security across the region by ensuring a reliable supply of quality grain and improving the livelihoods of farmers and stakeholders involved in the agricultural sector.

This initiative marks a vibrant public-private dialogue towards a comprehensive policy framework to support pulse trade. By improving market access, enhancing supply chains, and creating opportunities for job creation and value addition, the Ethiopia-Kenya Pulse Trade Project aspires to revolutionize the agricultural landscape of East Africa.

As we look to the future, the promise of this project is unmistakable: to bolster food security, empower smallholder farmers, enhance income generation, and champion long-term sustainability. With steadfast support from partners such as the MasterCard Foundation and Soil & More, we are charting a course for a future where agriculture underpins economic resilience and prosperity across borders.

Together, we are sowing the seeds of a thriving trade ecosystem, and this launch signifies merely the first step in what is sure to be a transformative journey for the region. Stakeholders are encouraged to continue engaging in dialogue and collaboration, ensuring that the vision of the Ethiopia-Kenya Pulse Trade Project becomes a reality for communities throughout East Africa.

Dr. Yihenew Zewdie, Country Director of AGRA in Ethiopia

Mr. Abera Mulat,Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Agriculture

By Content Hub

In the State of Kadun in Nigeria, amidst sprawling rice paddies, we meet 34-years-old Zaharadeen Zailani in the bustling city of Zaria, the headquarters of the Zaria local government council and the traditional Zaria emirate.

Zaharadeen, was born disabled in 1990, but this has not deterred his spirit, despite living with disability, he is a beacon of inspiration in his community as he mentors and shares his knowledge with community members and encourages them to pursue their passion regardless of the circumstances, they find themselves in.

At first sight, you might view Zaharadeen’s condition as a barrier, but he sees it as an opportunity to redefine what success could look like. His passion for agriculture made him venture into farming where he cultivates rice, maize, and soya beans.

His impact has extended beyond his farm, and he has turned his rice paddies into demo plots sharing his skills with the community.

“Sometimes people are amazed about how I manage to farm because of my physical disability. I usually tell them; that disability is not inability. I can farm,” says Zaharadeen.

Zaharadeen is among thousands of smallholder farmers across sub-Saharan Africa who have benefited from AGRA’s empowerment programs, and through improved technologies and access to markets are transforming agriculture and consequently enhancing food and nutrition security within their communities.

In Nigeria, the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) introduced recently, is empowering small-scale rice farmers to produce more from using less water, less seeds, and lower costs of production compared to paddy rice.

The method which has four main components – soil fertility management, planting methods, weed control and water (irrigation) management, makes it ideal for small-scale farmers that have in the recent past been affected by extreme weather events such as frequent flooding and droughts.

“I now have a different experience especially after meeting AGRA and the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), because they have taught us how to transform our farming from old ways to new methods,” says Zaharadeen.

He adds that he has now been sharing his knowledge with his community as a way of empowering them. As a Community-Based Advisor (CBA), Zaharadeen owns a rice demo plot where he has adopted the SRI method and trains other smallholder farmers.

“Some farmers within the community come to me and ask me about the new farming method and the challenges. Some have started adopting it, but a few are still sceptical, but with time everybody will get onboarded,” he says.

Rice farming in Nigeria is considered a major thing as the country is the largest producer and consumer of rice in Africa. Official data indicates that, as of the end of 2021, the country produced about five million metric tonnes of rice against a demand of 6.8 million metric tonnes per annum. Additionally, 90 percent of the rice is grown on paddies by resource-constrained smallholder farmers.

To address the deficit issue, SRI was introduced in Nigeria, and Kaduna State is one of the areas where this has been intensified. SRI is a climate-smart agriculture method that could address rice shortage in the country with environmental, economic, and social benefits to both small- and large-scale farmers.

In April, AGRA Kaduna Consortium lead and NAERLS visited Zaharadeen’s rice demo plot where the SRI method is being used. During the visit, AGRA Nigeria Country Program Lead, Juliette Lampoh handed a pumping machine to Zaharadeen to enhance irrigation for his demo.

By Liston Njoroge

Please tell us more about your professional role at AGRA

I am the Country Program Lead (CPL) for AGRA Uganda. In that role, I am responsible for working with partners in the private sector, government, research organizations, and others to prioritize the constraints our smallholder farmers and other value chain actors face and design interventions that unblock these constraints and open opportunities for our target clients to thrive. My driving motivation is that I can be an agent for catalyzing the attainment of AGRA’s development outcomes, which include increasing farmers’ income, food security, and resilience. In summary, my current role at AGRA is to support the development of a strong country program for Uganda that addresses the critical binding constraints to food systems transformation and unlocks opportunities for our target clients to survive and thrive.

How did you get involved in the Country Programme Lead (CPL) job?

The CPL job was a gratifying and fulfilling transition from my previous role as a Program Officer (PO) based at our Dar es Salaam office. I say gratifying and fulfilling because, for the last couple of years, I have aspired to get a promotion to senior program officer. Even though I had the confidence and support of my previous manager, who firmly believed a promotion for me was timely and well deserved, that aspiration was slow to come. The big break came when the new organizational structure for implementing strategy 3.0. came out. I saw the opportunity presented by the new CPL positions, applied, got shortlisted, and was interviewed. I was successful in the interview, and soon, an appointment letter came.

How have you settled in Uganda after a stint in Tanzania? How is the language transitioning?

Transitioning from Tanzania to Uganda was easier than I thought. After staying in Tanzania for eight years, I became habituated to that beautiful country. Moreover, I have very strong familial and historical ties to Tanzania. So, I was satisfied and very complacent to remain in Tanzania. However, on arriving in Uganda, I discovered that the country is a beautiful gem that genuinely fits its description as the Pearl of Africa. From the immigration officers at the airport to colleagues in the office, vendors in the market, and congregants in places of worship, everyone is kind and friendly. So, my settling was easy, and I now feel Uganda is home away from home.

Would you say you have a mastery of language?

The sage has argued over the ages that when you speak to a person in their language, you talk to their hearts. Conversely, if you speak to them in a foreign language, you speak to their heads. So, I have endeavored to learn the language of my hosts to the extent that is feasible and practical. I do not have a flair for mastery of languages, but to a reasonable degree, I am well disposed in that direction. I try to learn, and I succeed often.

What are some of your major career accomplishments?

My career trajectory straddles research and development, as I worked in CGIAR, private for-profit market research, and back to the current development work at AGRA. Within CGIAR, I worked at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). There, we contributed significantly to knowledge generation through conducting field research, data analysis and reporting, and publishing peer-reviewed articles in leading journals. One of our policy publications led to important reforms in the management of milk marketing in the country that saw itinerant traders allowed to participate in milk marketing. The old regulations permitted only registered milk processors to participate in milk marketing. The reform created flexibility in farmers’ choices to sell their milk, creating many dignified and fulfilling jobs in rural areas. Working in the for-profit market research sector was both challenging and fulfilling. Challenging because one had to report on and justify their contribution to the organization’s balance sheet. Fulfilling because one could relate their earnings to what they bring to the organization. In that role, we prepared many proposal bids that went to win and bring significant resources to the organization. At AGRA, we have delivered significant policy reforms beneficial to agribusinesses and smallholder farmers. I have also actively participated in developing and implementing country strategies.

How has your leadership role at AGRA helped define your career objectives?

My primary role as the Country Program Lead for Uganda is developing a strong country program around our country’s change narrative. To do that, I work with internal and external partners to prioritize the binding constraints within the business lines and design interventions that address these bottlenecks. I am motivated to contribute to attaining AGRA’s vision of transforming food systems, reducing hunger, improving nutrition, and adapting to the climate. My career objective is to engender positive social impact through agriculture.

You are passionate about the role of transforming agriculture. What are you doing around this matter as AGRA?

We are developing a country program that responds to the needs and aspirations of our stakeholders. We are building partnerships and capabilities that will help us transform agriculture.

What are your plans for the future?

I am exploring several options. I have broached the possibility of pursuing elective politics to the chagrin of my family. Let’s see what destiny will deliver in that direction. I may want to set up an advisory company to continue with my current trade in the solace of retirement.

In Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands, specifically Laikipia, Isiolo, and Samburu counties, the four-year Laikipia Isiolo Samburu Strengthening Environment through Nexus (LISTEN) Project is making significant strides in enhancing resilience to climate change. This initiative focuses on improving food, nutrition, and water security while promoting sustainable rangeland management.

Implemented by AGRA in partnership with SNV and the Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC), the LISTEN Project employs a nexus approach. This strategy involves integrating and leveraging the complementary activities of various agencies across different sectors, engaging community support, and involving the private sector where possible.

A notable achievement of the LISTEN Project, funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kenya, is its sustainable rangeland restoration efforts. The project has embraced a participatory approach, involving communities in every stage of intervention. This includes reseeding, eradicating invasive species like Opuntia, participatory resource mapping, and developing grazing management and business plans.

The project is grounded in county government ownership, aiming to scale impact by working at county, landscape, community, and farmer levels. It has supported the three county governments in crafting rangeland management frameworks, including the creation of policies and legislative structures to manage rangelands effectively. Each county now has a Rangelands Policy that calls for institutional structures, legislative drafts, and regulations for implementation. The validation of these policies through County Technical Working Groups (TWG) has further strengthened governance and policy direction.

Through these efforts, the LISTEN Project has rehabilitated 470 acres of rangeland. This has been achieved through grass reseeding and the establishment of seasonal grazing areas across community lands. Community members have been trained to develop grazing plans and practice regenerative land management through controlled grazing.

The project aims to support institutional capacities for climate change adaptation at the county level and enhance smallholder farmers’ knowledge and adoption of climate-smart irrigation technologies and practices. By involving communities in rangeland restoration, the project has improved pasture rejuvenation and increased availability, benefiting community members with better access to pasture for their herds and young livestock. This, in turn, has enhanced manure application and seed dispersal, leading to healthier rangelands.

The LISTEN Project has also provided valuable lessons for AGRA and its partners. One key insight is that introducing new knowledge requires ongoing capacity building rather than a single training session, as continuous education is essential for long-term impact. Community engagement is crucial for sustainability, as local knowledge and active participation are key to effective land management. Additionally, successful rangeland restoration hinges on strong partnerships, given the vastness of the arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) rangelands.

 
The community in Il Ngwesi, Isiolo County- Kenya engaging in the activity of rangeland restoration through grass reseeding, as part of restoring their degraded landscape.