The targets are ambitious: mobilize and train 3,000 farmers (30% women) this season, and increase yields from the current 500 kg/ha to 1 ton/ha. The private sector will not just match but nearly double 2SCALE’s contribution.
The pilot kicked off in March with workshops bringing together representatives of 20 primary cooperatives from two farmer unions (Tsehay and Debark) to discuss workplans and budgets. The cooperatives have committed to supplying nearly 3,000 tons by November. Growers and fields have been identified (10,372 farmers, 4,856 hectares), and arrangements finalized for sourcing and distributing seeds on credit. An extension package has been developed, with assistance from scientists from the regional agricultural research center. A total of 124 extension agents have been trained, and in turn have trained nearly 4,000 farmers.
A Business Model Canvas workshop in June focused on business planning. The 21 participants (Tsehay’s marketing team and local government officials) discussed branding and distribution strategies to target the BoP market for cooking oil. Ongoing market studies will help validate these plans; after which the union will contract a professional marketing agency to design and roll out an advertising campaign.