In 2020, 2SCALE initiated a pilot partnership in Egypt, with Special Foods Industry International (SFII). Located in Giza, Cairo, SFII is a female-led enterprise that sells fresh produce-mainly vegetables and olives- to the export market. In Sub-Saharan Africa, 2SCALE puts private sector actors in the driver’s seat to realize inclusive economic growth in agribusiness and enhanced food and nutrition security. In Northern Africa, the approach is not any different.
The ambition of the SFII-2SCALE partnership is to ensure the sustainable supply of quality processed vegetables by smallholder farmers, mainly women and youth. It also aims to enhance the competitiveness of the horticultural value chain in Egypt.
Currently, SFII is mainly dependent on the production of smallholder farmers. However, despite efforts to support these smallholder farmers, SFII’s limited experience and resources have in the past resulted in only benefiting very few such farmers. Through 2SCALE support, more smallholder farmers have been incorporated into the value chain, enhancing the supply base of SFII.
Strengthening the value chain through Agribusiness Cluster Formation
One of the key interventions that 2SCALE has had in this partnership is the formalization of two agribusiness clusters in Nubareya (Beheira) and Desert Road (Cairo). Operating at the grassroots level, these two clusters connect farmers, processors, aggregators, transporters, and the business champion-SFII. Facilitating such linkages has not only led to strengthening the value chain but it has also led to the empowerment of all actors along the value chain.
Dr. Yomna Elsheridy, the CEO of SFII, explains:
2SCALE has facilitated the creation of networks with other industry players along the value chain. The Agribusiness Cluster Approach has enabled us to build and strengthen relationships to achieve a common goal. Having meetings with farmers, aggregators, processors, and other actors is something we appreciate. During our discussions, we get to understand each other’s needs and challenges, as well as how best to coordinate our activities.
Through these clusters, governance structures are fully established. This has enabled smoother transactions between smallholder farmers and SFII, through three aggregators. The setup of these governance structures is a framework that has enhanced the active participation of women, especially those engaged in processing of the fresh produce.
More inclusivity: women take the lead in processing.
The engagement and inclusion of women in agricultural value chains remain a key priority for the 2SCALE program. Through the agribusiness cluster in Nubareya (Beheira), over 400 women have since 2022, been engaged in the processing of pepper at the household level. At SFII’s processing facility, 80% of the permanent staff are women, who work across different departments such as processing, quality control, and packaging.
In 2022, we hired and trained a team of ladies who process peppers to meet international standards. We also expanded the scope of processing to household level whereby women process the peppers before they are transported to our factory for final processing and packaging. This activity has created jobs for women who reside next to the farms.
Remarks Dr. Yomna.
For most of the women engaged in processing at household level, this is their first time having a source of income!
During a visit to Haji Ibrahim village in El Beheira, the women could not hide their joy as they talked about earning a living from this activity. Initially, only nine of them received training on how to process peppers. Fatma Ibrahim, is one of them. She narrates.
In May 2022, nine of us were trained on how to process peppers. We then started processing at household level, whereby we could dedicate the morning hours to this work, and spend the afternoons engaged in other household chores. Other women became interested in the activity and we trained them on how to process peppers. Once they honed the skill, they too joined us and together, we process peppers in our homes. Currently, 35 of us from Haji Ibrahim village earn a living processing pepper in our homes!