WHERE WE WORK

FIPS-Africa is currently building the capacity of 700 VBAs in Kenya, 1200 VBAs in Tanzania, and 250 VBAs in Mozambique, and has successfully applied its Approach to improve the food security of farmers growing a wide range of crops in a wide range of environments.

It has developed partnerships with 20 Seed Companies and 5 Fertilizer Companies in the Region.

Kenya

Nyeri and Kirinyaga Counties; the aim is to improve food security of small-holder coffee farmers. We currently have 53 VBAs who are focusing on improving the yields of farmers’ maize, beans, coffee, banana, and vegetable crops, and incomes from keeping chickens. This project is funded by the Louis Dreyfus Foundation.

Meru County; the aim is to improve potato crop productivity of small-holder farmers. We currently have 75 VBAs who are focusing on teaching farmers how to increase their incomes from growing potatoes through the use of clean seed, and good agricultural practice. This work is funded by USAID through the Accelerated Value Chain Development Programme (AVCD), and managed by the International Potato Centre (CIP).

Machakos and Makueni Counties; the aim is to improve food security of small-holder farmers. We currently have 250 VBAs who are focusing on advising farmers how to increase the yields of their maize, beans, cowpeas, green grams, pigeon pea, vegetables and fruit tree crops and how to improve their incomes from keeping chickens. This project is funded by the Seeds of Change Foundation.

Busia, Siaya, Vihiga, and Homa Bay Counties; the aim is to improve milk production from farmers’ cows by improving breeding, health, and nutrition. We currently have 100 VBAs who are focusing on advising farmers how to increase the yields of farmers’ fodder crops (maize, napier grass, brachiaria grass, desmodium, sweet potatoes), on how to manage their cows to produce more milk, and on linking farmers to AI service providers and to suppliers of acaricides, de-wormers and mineral salts. This work is funded by USAID through the Accelerated Value Chain Development Programme (AVCD) and managed by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).

Kitui County; the aim is to improve farmers’ incomes from keeping chickens. We currently have 20 VBAs who are vaccinating farmers’ chickens to prevent outbreaks of the Newcastle disease. This project is currently unfunded.

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Tanzania

Kilombero and Mbarali districts; the aim is to improve farmers’ incomes from growing rice. We currently have 50 VBAs in each district who are advising farmers on how to improve the management of their rice crops, and producing and selling Quality-declared seeds of an improved rice variety (TXD306). This project (Cereals Market System Development (CMSD)) is funded by USAID’s Feed the Future Programme, and managed by ACDI/VOCA.

Kilolo, Iringa, and Mbozi districts; the aim is to increase farmers’ incomes from growing maize. We currently have 50 VBAs in each district who are advising farmers on the best maize varieties and fertilizers to use. This project (Cereals Market System Development (CMSD)) is funded by USAID’s Feed the Future Programme, and managed by ACDI/VOCA.

Njombe, Makambako, and Songea districts; the aim is to increase the crop productivity of small-holder farmers. We currently have 50 VBAs in each district who are advising farmers on the best crop varieties and best crop/soil management practices. This project is funded by AGRA’s SSTP Programme.

FIPS-Africa has developed other district-level networks of Village-based Advisors in Mbeya, Mufindi, Kongwa, Kiteto, Mvomero, Morogoro, Bahi, Chamwino, Manyoni, Iramba, Singida, Moshi, Meru and Same districts, and is continuing to promote improved crop (maize, sunflowers, cowpeas, finger millet, and sesame) varieties and fertilizers in partnership with District Councils and private sector Companies.

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Mozambique

Sussendenga, Barue, Macate, Gondola, and Manica districts; FIPS-Africa has developed the capacity of 250 VBAs in these districts in Manica Province to offer improved maize varieties, fertilizer, and chicken vaccination services to farmers.

With the support of AGRA’s SSTP Programme, FIPS-Africa is continuing to build the capacity of a NGO, AGRIMERC-ODS, to implement FIPS-Africa’s Approach in 5 districts in Sofala, and Manica Province.

Nigeria, DR Congo and South Sudan