International Development Enterprises (iDE)

International Development Enterprises (iDE) works to improve the incomes of rural households and entrepreneurs in 12 countries across Africa, Asia and Central America. iDE recruits and trains farmers to become micro-entrepreneurs, provides access to finance, technology and business knowledge, and acts as the last-mile link for quality farm inputs and advisory services. We’re supporting the organisation in Zambia, where it aims to address the critical needs of 300,000 farming households.

ideglobal.org | Partner since 2023

Challenge

Over 80% of Zambians in poverty live in rural areas. The agricultural potential of the country remains underdeveloped because of poor road networks, poor distribution of inputs, limited marketing opportunities, lack of information and services, and dependence on unpredictable rain-fed cropping systems.

Response

iDE recruits and trains local agri-entrepreneurs as Farm Business Advisors (FBA) to sell quality seeds and other agricultural inputs to low-income smallholder farmers. FBAs also provide advice on improved farming practices, including climate-smart approaches. Many FBAs come from low-income households themselves and earn income by receiving commissions on sales and charging fees for the services they provide.

At harvest, iDE Farm Business Advisors help villages obtain better deals with wholesale buyers for certain crops. This approach reduces farmers’ transportation costs and the time taken to sell their produce. In doing so, it increases their collective selling power.