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Zito Impiro: VBA that grew through its network of farmers
Zito Fazbem Impiro is a 23-year-old farmer with primary school diploma (7th grade). He lives in the community of Chicopera, Gurué district, Zambézia province. Zito grows corn, soybeans, onions and beans.
In 2017, Zito joined the Otumiha project funded by AGRA as a Community Agribusiness Entrepreneur (CAE/VBA).
After successfully completing his training on GAP (Good Agronomic Practices), post-harvest technologies, product quality and aggregation, and business awareness, he became involved in the dissemination of new varieties of soybean and maize, and fertilizer through the distribution of small packs to the farmers he assists.
As a VBA he assists a total of 250 farmers. After mobilization, he begins by training them on Good Agricultural Practices with “learning-by-doing” at the demonstration fields he established with Otumiha’s support.
As a VBA, Zito began aggregating his farmers´ produce and making linkages with potential buyers. These linkages resulted in good sales that benefited the farmers and allowed him to earn a considerable commission which boosted young Zito’s business spirit.
In the 2017/2018 cropping season, Zito aggregated 500kg of beans and 40 jute-bags of onion (100-120 kg each) which he sold for 42 MZN/kg (0.70 USD/kg) and 4,000MZN/jute-bag (USD 67/jute-bag) of common bean and onions respectively, comparing to the going market prices of 40 MZN/kg (USD 0.67/kg) and 3,500MZN/jute-bag (USD 58/jute-bag) respectively. Zito received from his farmers the margin of 1MZN per kg of beans and 100 MZN per jute-bag giving him a total pay-out of 4.500 MZN (USD 75).
Zito used the value obtained from the margins and part of his money to bought a TV, 4 plastic chairs, 3 solar panels and 1 current inverter.
Zito noted that the relationship with his farmers was already well established. From there, he identified a promising business opportunity in the market of inputs, mainly seeds and pesticides, and began selling seeds and pesticides to his farmers in the 2018/2019 cropping season.
To jump start his seed business he bought 100 kg of maize seed at of 110MZN/kg and 250 kg of soybean seed at 25 MZN/kg, which he sold at 120 MZN/kg and 40MZN/kg respectively. With that he made a total profit of 4750 MZN (USD 80).
Zito also decided to get involved in the insecticide business by acquiring 6 mono-dosage vials (for ¼ ha) at 150MZN/bottle and resells the 250MZN/bottle and keeps the business alive by reinvesting his income by buying new stock and increasing the volume of the stock. Initially, he bought 16 vials, now keeps a revolving stock of 230 vials and already sold a total of 181 vials with a profit of 18,100 MZN (USD 300).
Zito noted that the relationship with his farmers was already well established. From there, he identified a promising business opportunity in the market of inputs, mainly seeds and pesticides, and began selling seeds and pesticides to his farmers in the 2018/2019 cropping season.
To jump start his seed business he bought 100 kg of maize seed at of 110MZN/kg and 250 kg of soybean seed at 25 MZN/kg, which he sold at 120 MZN/kg and 40MZN/kg respectively. With that he made a total profit of 4750 MZN (USD 80).
Zito also decided to get involved in the insecticide business by acquiring 6 mono-dosage vials (for ¼ ha) at 150MZN/bottle and resells the 250MZN/bottle and keeps the business alive by reinvesting his income by buying new stock and increasing the volume of the stock. Initially, he bought 16 vials, now keeps a revolving stock of 230 vials and already sold a total of 181 vials with a profit of 18,100 MZN (USD 300).