Programme profile
Katalyst (Phase 3)
Project description / objective
To increase the competitiveness of micro, small and medium sized enterprises in key urban and rural sectors.
See also:
Market systems and interventions
Maize
We work with:
- Private input companies to provide quality inputs and information to promote maize cultivation in suitable regions
- Processing companies and other relevant actors to take-up strategies for providing farmers with market access
- Commercial compost producers to develop efficient production and distribution mechanisms, and facilitate public and private service providers to promote better technology for quality homestead compost production to cater for a greater number of vegetable and maize farmers
- Market actors to be more proactive in disseminating information on micronutrient usage
Farmed fish
We work with:
- Input providers to use better ingredients, technology and production processes to increase the availability of quality inputs to farmers
- Input providers and other relevant actors on marketing techniques to promote quality inputs and farming practices to small farmers
Vegetables
We work with:
- Private companies to provide quality seed to vegetable farmers through better sourcing, marketing and distribution
- Market actors to be more proactive in disseminating information on micronutrient usage
- Commercial compost producers to develop efficient production and distribution mechanisms; and public and private service providers to promote better technology for quality homestead compost production to cater to a greater number of vegetable farmers
- Crop protection solution providers to offer a wider range of control options, including the safe and judicious use of pesticide and new IPM products to vegetable farmers
- Market actors to provide various services to farmers and other relevant value chain actors to reduce post-harvest loss and to improve trading practices throughout the chain
- Micro finance institutions (MFIs) and agro-input companies to provide embedded services to increase the profitability of farmers by practicing innovative business promotion models
Information channels
We work with:
- Telecommunication companies to provide agricultural solutions; other relevant market actors use ICT to improve farmer access to information and services
- Content developers to provide agriculture content to information channels (e.g. agriculture helplines)
- Academia and training institutes to build the capacity of aspiring and practicing journalists to represent agriculture better in the news, features and relevant services
- Research firms who supply information data on rural viewership trends, to enable the media and advertisers to more effectively target and reach rural audiences.
Local agribusiness network
We work with:
- Public extension departments to collaborate with relevant private sector actors through better resource management to deliver improved agricultural services
- Central offices of extension agencies to adopt PPP in service delivery functions
- Agricultural traders and other relevant private stakeholders to provide diversified agriculture services to targeted farmer groups.
Women's economic empowerment
We work with:
- Input companies and other relevant actors to develop service delivery mechanisms effectively targeting women farmers and entrepreneurs in quality input supply
- Private companies, NGOs and other relevant actors to develop appropriate service packages and/or delivery mechanisms to effectively reach women farmers and entrepreneurs with relevant information and knowledge
- Private companies, government organisations and NGOs to provide improved and relevant market links to women farmers and entrepreneurs.
Results
By the end of 2015:
- Katalyst has benefited over 1 million additional farms and MSMEs, generating additional nominal net income for farms and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by over $109 million (approx.).
- 52 business competitiveness initiatives have been undertaken by relevant companies, public, private sector actors etc. as a result of Katalyst’s work.
[Updated June 2016]
Final update, 2018:
The project finished in March 2018.
Project results can be viewed on the Katalyst archive website