Growing Together - Smallholder Farmer Network in Ethiopia

Challenge: Smallholder farmers in Ethiopia's Oromia region struggled with unpredictable harvests, limited market access, and food insecurity. Despite fertile land, yields were 40% below potential due to outdated farming practices and a lack of quality inputs. Middlemen captured most profits, leaving farmers with minimal income.  

Our Approach: Lexington Advisory Group partnered with GrowthAgri, an agtech startup, to create a comprehensive farmer support network. We designed an integrated platform combining precision agriculture guidance, input financing, and direct market connections. The key was making sophisticated technology accessible to farmers with limited formal education.  

Implementation: We established farmer field schools where lead farmers learned climate-smart techniques and digital literacy skills. These champions then trained peers in their communities. A mobile app provided weather forecasts, planting guidance, and market prices in local languages. We connected farmers directly with urban buyers and food processors, eliminating exploitative middlemen.  

Results: The network now serves 8,400 farmers across 34 communities. Average crop yields increased by 73% while reducing input costs by 22%. Farmer incomes rose by 124% through better yields and higher prices. Food security improved dramatically—95% of participating families now eat three meals daily, up from 31% before the program.  

What Made It Work: Combining high-tech solutions with high-touch community engagement. The most sophisticated agricultural technology means nothing if farmers don't trust it or can't use it. Our farmer-to-farmer training model created sustainable knowledge transfer.