One Acre Fund-TUBURA is implementing a new programme dubbed "Amaduka Akorana na One Acre Fund: Shops partnering with One Acre Fund” aimed to ensure that more smallholders farmers get agro-inputs on  credit so as to increase agricultural productivity

Founded in 2007 in Rwanda, One Acre Fund-TUBURA is an agricultural development organisation currently serving over more than 600,000 farming households, delivering farm inputs on credit direct to the cell level to increase their yield.

The organisation trains farmers on the latest agricultural practices, and how to sell harvest surplus and also offers other products on credit, like solar lights, which improves their quality of life.

Evariste Bagambiki, a communications specialist at One Acre Fund- TUBURA said that new program currently working with 66 agro-dealers will boost uptake of fertilizers and quality seeds and thus increase productivity.

"Some smallholder farmers face challenges like lack of cash to buy sufficient inputs for their farms and also lack access to credit. One Acre Fund-TUBURA wants to serve more farmers by also working with agro-dealers to sell agro-inputs on credit," he said.

 In order to ensure agro-dealers who sell farm input on credit continue to have liquidity, One Acre Fund-TUBURA immediately pays the agro-dealers so that farmers will gradually pay back the credit to One Acre Fund-TUBURA in installments.

Through this arrangement, farmers can access all kinds of inputs from the dealers on credit, including fertilizer and hybrid maize seeds, as well as high-quality harvest storage bags, spray pumps, pesticides, fungicides and solar home systems.

He said that working with agro-dealers will also ensure smallholder farmers get inputs especially for season C in which One Acre Fund-TUBURA itself doesn't supply much from its own stores.

The programme is currently operational in the districts of Gakenke, Gicumbi, Kayonza, and Rwamagana with plans to expand it in four new districts for the 22A season – namely Ngoma, Kirehe, Rulindo, and Burera.

He said that loans have been provided to more than 34,000 farmers in the 21AB season so far.

"We urge more farmers to work with agro-dealers under this programme to ensure they have constant supply of inputs irrespective of whether they have cash or not.”

Through the programme, One Acre Fund-TUBURA has deployed shop officers to mobilize farmers to buy the agro-input on credit from agro-dealers shops.

After buying their inputs, farmers receive training so that they go home knowing very well how to use those products.

The organization has also hired farming promoters in communities and these were trained by the government’s Twigire Muhinzi programme and offers training on improved planting techniques.

Each agro-dealer shop is equipped with a small box of earth that is used for live planting demonstrations.

"Partnered agro-dealers can see input sales volumes grow by 50% or more in just the first year of partnership," Bagambiki said.

Agro-dealers, farmers commend programme

Immaculee Mukamuhoza, an agro-dealer from Binunga cell Munyiginya sector in Rwamagana district said that her sales volumes have hugely increased.

"Since the programme started, I have more clients because farmers were mobilized and facilitated to buy fertilizers, seeds and other agro-inputs on credit," she said.

"Before benefitting from this programme I used to supply six tonnes of agro-inputs to farmers per season but this has increased to 20 tonnes. When we provide agro-puts to farmers, One Acre Fund Tubura pays us in one week then the farmers will pay Tubura gradually as they get money," she said.

Jacqueline Uwera in Bwana cell of Munyiginya sector is a farmer who has been buying fertilizers on credit from agro-dealers under the program.

"Before this credit programme, we would even plant crops without fertilizers or delay planting due to lack of financial capacity. Therefore the agricultural productivity was always very low. Thanks to the credit program my produce has increased from 200kg to one tonne," she said.

She has also received fertilizers on credit to grow Irish potatoes on 80 acres this season.

"I pay back the credit in installments as I get money," she said

She said that the fertilizers have also improved her fruit productivity from which she got a harvest worth Rwf5 million.

"I have since managed to build a house and set up a shop thanks to the initiative,” she said.

Janvier Habimana another farmer said that before working with agro-dealers through One-Acre Fund Tubura, he used to count huge losses on his farm.

"I once prepared my land but lacked the financial capacity to buy fertilizers for beans. I lost over Rwf400,000. Thanks to the credit programme, my seasonal yield has tripled.”

Immaculee Mukamuhoza, an agro-dealer from Binunga cell Munyiginya sector in Rwamagana district said that her sales volumes have hugely increased thanks to partnership with One Acre Fund Tubura.