We develop market-based services that increase the yields, support agribusinesses to include smallholder farmers in their supply chain, connect with markets, and professionalise service provision. We work with partners and governments to create an enabling environment and accelerate investments in the sector.

The challenge

A low skills levels, a lack of quality inputs and extension services result in low productivities. Poor food safety standards, handling, storage and logistics, prohibit the inclusion of small and medium sized farmers in professional supply chains. These constraints hamper the sector’s ability to meet the increasing domestic demand and connect with export markets. Greenhouse gas emissions and adherence to food safety standards are two additional concerns. Increasing sustainable productivity and value chain effectiveness can be used to address this dual challenge.

Our product

SNV offers a proven market based approach for the sector to address the problems of enterprises, smallholders as well as consumers. SNV brings together stakeholders and builds capacities of value chain actors to increase the efficiency of supply chains, improve food safety and reduce food losses, while growing businesses.

We draw on our decades-long experience as an implementer - using best practices in agriculture production, supply chain management, market-based solutions, and strengthening public institutions and service providers – to develop agriculture markets at scale.

SNV’s value chain approach consists of the following elements:

• Market system development: we analyse local challenges and identify opportunities to grow the value chain.
• Public Private Partnerships: SNV works in public-private partnerships to address bottlenecks, create joint investment and share best practices.
• Smart services: We develop professional market-based input, trade and information services. For example we establish Farmer Field Schools and model farms.
• Sustainable intensification: we improve increase productivity and promote green technologies throughout the value chain.
• Financing: we manage matching funds to incubate innovations and leverage commercial and private sector financing to achieve scaling.

Our focus is on seven commodities: dairy, horticulture, livestock, cassava, cocoa, coffee and palm oil. We focus on these commodities because of their economic importance in the countries where we work, the economic opportunities they provide for those living in poverty and their potential for export markets.