KULIMA More Income and Employment in Rural Areas in Malawi (KULIMA MIERA) – Contract Farming

KULIMA MIERA aims to strengthen small-scale producers, cooperatives and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) to add value and to link them through formal or structured marketing channels to access higher-value markets and thus create an enabling environment in which rural income and employment can be increased. KULIMA MIERA therefore promotes inclusive business and new marketing models. The programme identifies entry points in line with private sector priorities and ultimately targets small producers (‘the poor with assets’), as well as MSMEs in rural and peri-urban areas of Malawi. The programme works in seven value chains, Cassava, Soya, Groundnuts, Sunflower, Macadamia, Rice and Chili/Paprika.


The overall objective is to form an advisory facility focused specifically on Inclusive Contract Farming (ICF) to improve the support offered to private sector partners. The MIERA programme has developed a concept for an ‘Inclusive Contract Farming Advisory Facility’, with the remit of offering needs based and demand driven support packages to the KULIMA MIERA partners for developing and operating ICF schemes successfully.

Services provided include, but are not limited to:

 

Services provided include, but are not limited to:
(1)    Analysis and design of ICF schemes and technical advice

  • Detailed analysis of different ICF schemes within the value chains of Cassava, Soya, Groundnuts, Sunflower, Macadamia, Rice and Chili/Paprika
  • (Re)Design of all analysed ICF schemes in the respective value chains
  • Support private sector partners with the implementation of the developed ICF schemes by providing on-going demand-driven and context-relevant advice and support as needed
  • Conduct an initial and afterwards an annual survey with KULIMA MIERA partners to assess their satisfaction with the support being provided through the ICF Advisory Facility
  • Arrange discrete internal learning sessions to share best practices and lessons learned from partner interactions on a regular basis

(2)    Knowledge management & ICF Promotion

  • Development of a systematic approach to capturing and ordering knowledge obtained through partner interactions
  • Production of factsheets, video clips and workshop materials in line with the systematic approach developed, e.g. on farmer selection, input provision, contract negotiation
  • Organisation of an annual event on ICF and B2B exchange visits
  • Evaluation on an on-going basis the impact of any knowledge dissemination on key stakeholders involved in ICF
  • Briefing of other developing partners and Govt. on ICF using different platforms

(3)    Enhancing local ICF consulting expertise

  • Identification of criteria for the selection of ICF consultants (individuals and firms) to be trained in all kind of contract farming issues
  • Preparation and organisation of an open call for “expression of interest” for the selection process
  • Competitive selection of participants for training
  • Development of training materials and methodology
  • Conduct trainings in ICF technical advice in partnership with GIZ contract farming master trainers
  • Linking of private sector partners to trained ICF consultant in the last year of the programme
  • Following up and monitoring of trained consultants on progress and quality of delivery