KICS established farmer-led agribusiness platforms (FLAPs) in 2023 to support sustainable farming techniques and help smallholder farmers sell their crops more effectively.
There are four groups of 30 farmers. Each has a trained facilitator to teach them about land preparation, crop selection, planting, water management, weeding, harvesting and budgeting. Each group has a demonstration plot.
Kashare has two growing seasons. February is hot and unpredictable. August is more productive but can be affected by heavy rains.
To ensure a sustainable farming cycle, FLAP members collaborate to pool their earnings from the sale of crops such as carrots, onions and millet. These funds are then used collectively to purchase essential supplies, like seeds and fertilisers, for the upcoming season.
This initiative empowers farmers to adopt best practice and foster strong, collaborative relationships within their groups. The training programme for these FLAPs is scheduled to conclude in 2024, when new groups will be formed.