In sub-Saharan Africa, nearly half the population are small-holder farmers who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods and struggle to emerge from poverty. These farmers are often characterized by a lack of affordable credit, a lack of agronomic information, low-quality inputs, and limited access to markets. Good Nature Agro (GNA) is a Zambian social enterprise that links smallholder farmers to the important market for legume seeds (cowpeas, soybeans, and groundnut). They do so by providing certified seeds and inputs on credit, high-touch technical assistance, and a guaranteed market at the end of the season.
GNA farmers earn on average 3x the income per hectare of typical farmers in their local region. Further, legume seeds are highly resilient, require less water, and have the added benefit of fixing nitrogen to replenish the soil. GNA is supporting their farmers to shift towards farming practices that are more sustainable from both a financial and environmental perspective. In collaboration with the impact investing firms Global Partnerships and Goodwell Investments, Umsizi Fund is an equity investor facilitating GNA’s expansion to work with thousands of farmers in Zambia.