Agriculture

Much the same as any small business, small farmers are entrepreneurs struggling to survive in a competitive environment, except that the consequences of a failed investment are much harsher. If a buffalo dies, the rice crop fails, a disease destroys fruit trees, or the prices for a crop fall at harvest, members of the family may have to forgo sufficient food or essential health care.

Diversification is key for small farmers to improve the profitability of their agricultural enterprises. Like an investment portfolio, a small farm is most likely to yield healthy profits when it has a diverse range of products and times to investment maturity. Diversity enables farmers to capitalize on the agronomic benefits of integrated systems while maximizing profit and minimizing risk.

To progress to profitable, diversified systems, small farmers need affordable, low-risk ways to improve their agricultural businesses. IDE develops the local private sector to provide incremental investment opportunities appropriate for small farms that have clear and rapid returns. Capacity building ensures that local enterprises can provide the range of services, technical assistance, advice, and information small farmers need. IDE creates an environment that allows small farmers to continually improve their agricultural businesses: an environment of expanding, adapting grassroots private sector enterprises.