Bridging the gap: Addressing challenges to accessing quality agricultural inputs through market linkages for women smallholder farmers

Private Sector Lead Firms, Deans of Faculty of Agriculture, Heads of Women in Agriculture (WIA), INGO Representatives and CASCADE Nigeria team during the Agricultural Input Workshop.

To strengthen linkages and supply networks for sustainable access to agricultural inputs for smallholder farmers in CASCADE implementing communities, CASCADE Nigeria organized a 3-day Agricultural Inputs’ Supply Workshop from 20-22nd March 2024 in Bauchi State.

The workshop provided private sector actors with the opportunity to pitch different models, products, and services that have significant prospects for unlocking investment for Small Holder Farmers across selected value chains. These models included investment platforms, digital agricultural extension and advisory services (D-AEAS), and post-harvest handling to reduce food loss and waste

The workshop aligned with the Farmer Field Business School model (FFBS), which is a component of the CASCADE program in Nigeria. Through FFBS, the program continues to collaborate with the local state government to enhance the capacity of extension workers through market-oriented approaches aimed at promoting access to farm inputs, cultivation, marketing, and consumption of selected food groups. The FFBS model also encompasses gendered approaches that strengthen women’s capacity to have better access to the agricultural value chain system across the implementing states (Bauchi, Jigawa, Kebbi, and Nasarawa States).

The private service provider who joined the workshop included:

• East West Seeds International
• Seed Co
• International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC)
• Horti Nigeria, Contec Global Agro Limited,
• Thrive Agriculture
• Fadhila Crop Science
• Agro Trophic

Other attendees included actors working on digital information, advisory and extension services, and agricultural input support markets, such as Akoma Gona and Pula Advisors on crop and livestock insurance services, and Tamarap International Company Limited and Chime Foods on food processing.

The workshop had the participation of Academic Deans of the Faculty of Agriculture from:

Federal University Dutse (FUD),

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU),

Nasarawa State University (NSU),

Federal University of Agriculture Birnin Kebbi (FUAB),

Additional participants comprised Program Managers and Heads of Women in Agriculture (WIA) from Bauchi State Agriculture Development Programme-BSADP, Jigawa Agricultural and Rural Development Agency-JARDA, Nasarawa Agricultural Development Programme (NADP), and Kebbi Agricultural and Rural Development Agency-KARDA.

Female actors both Representatives of Private Sector Lead Firms, Head of Women in Agriculture (WIA) at the Agricultural Input Supply Workshop.

Innovation in Action:

The Agricultural Inputs Supply Workshop by CASCADE Nigeria in Bauchi State (March 20-22nd, 2024) strengthened supply networks for small holder farmers. Lead agricultural firms, academic figures, and Women in Agriculture heads collaborated, fostering investment, digital services, and market-oriented approaches. Leveraging CARE International tools, CASCADE Nigeria prioritizes capacity building and gender inclusion, aiming to empower women farmers and enhance resilience across multiple states

Author
Isaac Ishaya Audu : CARE Nigeria |Project Manager-CASCADE