Smallholder Market Development Programme (SMDP)

Project Period: Aug10-Oct12

Between August 2010 and October 2012 APT implemented the SMDP on behalf of FAO. This two-year programme was designed to support contract farming partners – both smallholder farmers and the companies contracting them. It was funded through FAO by the Swedish and Netherlands governments, and the European Union.

The objectives were to improve access by smallholder farmers to input and output market and extension support through contract growing with private companies. Companies partnered in the programme, the commodities supported, and geographic location of farmers are shown in the table below. 

Company	Commodity	Geographic location
Agriseeds	Cowpea, groundnut and sunnhemp seed	Mazowe, Mutasa, Murehwa, Sanyati
Better Agriculture	Bird’s Eye Chilli	Mutasa, Zaka
Capsicum	Paprika	Nyanga, Hurungwe
Hy-veld	Paprika	Mutoko
IETC	Soya and maize	Bindura, Guruve
Kurima Gold	Cowpea	Zaka
Alliance One	Maize	Makoni, Mt. Darwin
Matanuska	Banana	Mutasa
Northern Farming	Maize	Mazowe
Progene	Cowpea, sorghum and groundnut seed	Guruve, Mount Darwin
Tribac	Maize	Marondera, Makoni, Mutare, Goromonzi, Mazowe, Makondi
Zimbabwe Coffee Mill	Coffee	Mutasa, Chipinge, Chimanimani, Mutare

 

Overall results included:

• 10 158 farmers receive market linkages, input credit, training and extension support through contract farming
• Farmers produce contract commodities on 4.791 ha
• 12 companies facilitated and strengthened in their inclusive business models: Agriseeds, Better Agriculture, Capsicum, Hy-veld Paprika, IETC, Kurima Gold, Alliance One, Matanuska, Northern Farming, Progene, Tribac, Zimbabwe Coffee Mill
• Farmers contracted to produce 12 commodities for export and local markets: Banana, chilli, coffee, cowpea, groundnut, maize, paprika, sorghum, soya, sugar bean, sunnhemp
• 12 companies receive technical advice on farmer performance and contract systems
• Private sector and farmer monitoring tools developed