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PROGRAM OVERVIEW

WELCOME TO FARMER'S PRIDE INTERNATIONAL

At Farmers Pride International (FPI), we are dedicated to the transformation of rural and urban communities from their poverty and hunger status to prosperity through sustainable innovative agricultural practices, technology integration, and education. We build their farming capacities through skills and knowledge transfer working in partnerships with Development partners, Agriculture grants and funding, financial institutions for short term investments and venture capital as well as agro-processors and food exporters to foster economic growth, sustainability, and self-sufficiency through establishment, operation and management of Agriculture-Based Clusters (ABCs) Guided by the principles of environmental stewardship and social well-being.

Our Flagship Program:

FPI has developed and ambitious Rural and Urban Agriculture Innovative Production Program (RUAIPP)

The RUAIPP is our flagship initiative, designed to transition smallholder farmers from subsistence to commercial farming. The transformative program focuses on the following:

  1. Community-Centric Approach: We believe in building empowered communities, fostering sustainable community development and economic empowerment through strategic investments in agriculture and rural initiatives, empowering local landowners and beneficiaries to become active participants in the agriculture value chains. This approach nurtures thriving local economies, strengthens the bonds between rural producers and urban markets, and provides meaningful opportunities for youth and women to contribute to the growth of their communities. Our work is guided by a steadfast belief in the transformative power of community-driven development.

  2. Agriculture-Based Cluster Development: This is FPI’s cornerstone strategy that involves creating synergies between farmers, investors, funding partners, donors, Government and other players in farming and Industrial cluster development, as a means of building capacity for smallholder farmers to enhance productivity and gain access to local, regional and international markets. This approach gives power to these farmers to collectively negotiate better terms with financiers, suppliers and buyers, ensuring a steady supply of inputs and a reliable market for their produce.

  3. Self-Help Microfinance Credit Schemes: To solve the issue of farming financing, (FPI) runs a Financial Inclusion Program, through providing training on self-help microfinancing to smallholder farmers. The goal of this training is to empower these farmers to invest small amounts of what they have in their farms, purchase necessary inputs, and ultimately improve their overall livelihoods. Read more here>>>

  4. Training and Capacity Building: FPI provides comprehensive training in farm management, gender empowerment, and technology integration. This equips farmers with the skills needed to improve their productivity and connect more effectively with suppliers and markets.

  5. Creation of Front and Backward Linkages: FPI's initiative promotes the growing of high-value crops like potatoes, rice, wheat, sunflower, Moringa and develops comprehensive value chains that seamlessly connect farmers with suppliers and markets. This allows farmers to adopt best practices, access lucrative markets, and receive fair prices for their produce, ultimately improving their livelihoods. This holistic approach optimizes every stage of the supply chain, from efficient production and processing to effective distribution, ensuring maximum benefit for the farmers. Furthermore, 

  6. Sustainable Practices: It implements climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable farming techniques, were they learn about farm planning, set up and management, soil types, water types and management, helping farmers maintain productivity and marketability in the face of environmental challenges.

  7. Agroecology: The RUAIPP bring to life the whole package on sustainable farming in both rural and urban centres, mainstreaming agroecological principles in all farming activities to promote biodiversity, enhance ecosystem services, and ensure sustainable agricultural practices.

 

Through these initiatives, FPI is effectively bridging the gap between rural producers and urban agro-industries and markets, creating a seamless flow of goods and services that benefits all stakeholders involved.

 

 

WHY IS FPI FOCUSING ON AGRICULTURE?

FPI promotes agriculture due to its essential role in economic development, food security, and job creation across Africa. With much of its focus on agro-food processing, FPI enhances the value of raw agricultural products, which increases profitability for farmers and positively impacts the economy. This value chain approach ensures that investments yield significant financial returns, making it a strategic and sustainable pathway for growth and self-reliance.

 
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Moreover, fostering a strong agricultural sector contributes to rural development by creating jobs and reducing poverty. By investing in both primary production and agro-food processing, FPI helps establish a comprehensive ecosystem that supports farmers, increases local employment opportunities, and strengthens food systems. Ultimately, this initiative benefits the entire community, promoting resilience and economic stability.

MIND SET CHANGE ON HOW TO LOOK AT AGRICULTURE

According to the African Development Bank President, Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina Agriculture is not a social sector, nor is it a development sector, but a business." At FPI we share the same belief, as Agriculture is more than just crop production: it encompasses livestock raising, industrial forestry, fishing, and agricultural support services. By treating agriculture as a business, we can unlock its potential as a wealth-developing sector, contributing significantly to the global economies and providing opportunities for economic equity.​​​​​​​

OUR IMPACT

Since our inception, FPI has grown from a small youth farming group founded in Zimbabwe, we have grown to become an international organization with a presence in over +41 countries across seven continents, with a Global Research and Development HQ in the USA. Our programs continue to empower thousands of farmers, promoting sustainable farming practices, and establishing robust market linkages, contributing to global food security and economic development.

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMWORKERS' WELFARE?

Although there has been a global decline in agricultural employment— from 1 billion in 2000 to 883 million in 2019: , according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations—agriculture still ranks as the second-largest employment sector, accounting for 26.7% of total jobs.

Agriculture is also vital for sustaining life by providing essential food resources significantly boosting economies, contributing $7 trillion to countries like the USA, and fostering economic equity and global prosperity. Notably, since 2000, Sub-Saharan Africa has experienced the highest agricultural growth rate worldwide, averaging 4.3% annually, which has driven substantial economic gains, as reported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Despite its critical role, farmworkers in Africa remain among the lowest-paid workers

Read more>>>

 

AGRICULTURE BASED CLUSTERS

 Agriculture Based Clusters (ABCs) are a cornerstone of FPI's work, they consist of farming clusters (FCs) for community-level farming production and industrial clusters (ICs), for processing, marketing, distribution, and exports of agricultural produce, it also involves banks and other financial institutions to finance mass food production systems, with this strategy FPI-I positions itself as a leading solution for producing high-value and high-quality vegetables, grains, oilseeds, pulse crops, and legumes for both domestic and export markets.

ABCs are crucial in building community structures that ensure sufficient food production to feed the world. These structures establish a sustainable Agricultural innovation system,, incorporating practices from zero tillage to GPS-guided machinery and AI-driven crop management. Working with smallholder farmers, who are responsible for growing about 70% of the world’s food supply on small farms of 1 hectare or more, these farmers are essential to the global food system.

 

 

AGRICULTURAL FINANCING & SELF-HELP MICROFINANCE CREDIT SCHEMES

While agriculture is vital for providing food and resources, it often lacks funding due to being seen as high-risk by financiers. This challenge of accessing capital affects both rural and urban farmers and is expected to continue. To address this, FPI collaborates with farming communities to create accessible and affordable capital-building solutions. These efforts aim to improve farming methods, streamline input acquisition, and boost crop yields. Recognizing that small-scale farmers often struggle to secure credit due to insufficient collateral or credit history, self-help microfinance initiatives play a crucial role by offering accessible credit to those marginalized by traditional lenders. Read more>>

To overcome the capital challenges faced by aspiring farmers, FPI-I has launched self-help microfinance credit schemes and community-based lending programs. These initiatives provide financial support to small-scale farmers who are often overlooked by traditional banks. Managed by the farmers themselves, these programs pool savings to create a loan fund, offering low-interest loans that are more accessible than those from commercial lenders.

 

AGRICULTURE AND POPULATION GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Understanding the importance of agriculture in the context of population growth is crucial. The global population, currently at 7.9 billion, is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, source>>>. When it comes to population growth Africa is the worst affected, with over 60% of its population under 25, and is expected to constitute 42% of the global youth by 2050. This rapid population growth presents significant challenges, including job creation and increased food demand. Agriculture is key to addressing these challenges, ensuring food security and economic stability.

 YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND JOB CREATION

 

​We believe in engaging young people in agriculture and consider this as a vital solution to address job shortages, foster innovation, and promote sustainability. FPI-I recognizes the potential of youth in agriculture and has established Agrotech, a Department that involves them in the sector. This initiative encourages young people to bring new ideas and technologies, driving progress and improving production.

Young individuals interested in agriculture are encouraged to start their own businesses, whether by establishing small farms or developing new products and technologies for export. This not only creates jobs but also stimulates economic development in rural and urban areas. Read more>>

Transforming Agriculture to Meet Growing Food Demand

The demand for staple foods and processed agricultural commodities is rising everyday in developing countries, a mindset shift is now essential more than ever to meet these needs. The agricultural and food sectors must undergo significant transformation to attract the younger generation.

To address this, FPI has launched several research-based high-value crop production projects under its Rural and Urban Agriculture Innovative Production Program (RUAIPP). These projects align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) 1 to 8, leveraging agricultural innovations to build sustainable pathways. If fully implemented, this global roadmap will help feed 9.7 billion people by 2050.

UN SUSTANABLE GOALS 

As demand for staple foods and agricultural processed food commodities increasingly grows across Africa, there is a need for mindset change if it is to meet these needs. The agricultural and food sectors need to undergo a significant transformation to attract financing. With  Agricultural Innovations, above all the world needs to support African Agriculture sector to meet the challenges of building sustainable pathways to feed 9.7 billion people by the year 2050. Read more>>>

Get Involved

Support our efforts in feeding the world and empowering communities. Your contributions can help us expand our program to reach more farmers, and create a sustainable future for all. Contact us:

 
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