Partnership links market, farmers

Business

Transitioning from subsistence fresh produce farming to market-oriented agriculture business is a challenge many farmers face.
Coupled with limited financial services and products and poor money management skills, it can be overwhelming for farmers to grow and sustain their business.
This challenge will now be met – thanks to a partnership between the Centre for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (Cefi), Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA) and the government under the market for village farmers project.
Cefi executive director Saliya Ranasinghe and FPDA general-manager Mark Worinu on Friday signed a five-year partnership agreement for Cefi to provide 25,000 farming families financial training, services and products in Western Highlands, Jiwaka, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, Morobe and East New Britain.
Cefi will educate farmers on money management skills, savings and lending schemes to build a savings culture and grow their businesses.
Worinu said the project would adopt a family-based approach to increase capacities of farming families, especially women and youths to take advantage of project benefits through financial, business and nutrition education.
The project is valued at US$38 million (K127 million) and was executed by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock and implemented by FPDA with funding from the International Fund for Agricultural Development.