The model of sustainable agriculture works through the creation of a commercially viable ‘core-farm’, where local farmers are trained in improved varieties, inputs and techniques from land management to sowing to harvesting.
They then take these skills and inputs to their own farms. This creates a multiplier effect: the core farm will create local jobs for full-time labourers, seasonal harvesting labourers, managers and processing staff. The core farm then catalyses employment and income for a larger number of smallholder farmers, who become micro-enterprises in their own right.
We seek to design and implement several full value-chain agribusinesses that address both job creation and local food production. The businesses will generate high-value crops for export and biofuels, and support land uses compatible with the Nimba Mountains Biosphere Reserve.
This initiative will be informed by the Regional Development Planning Study.