The incubator and accelerator program responsible for the management of public private partnerships and inclusive business in agri-business has celebrated a decade of their existence and works.
The celebration which was dubbed under the theme “a decade of promoting inclusive agri-business in Africa” was targeted at creating a platform for organizers and beneficiaries of the program to share various experiences that will facilitate an uplift in the objective of the program.
The program since its investiture in 2012 has provided a wide range of support services to SMEs, smallholder agriculture and agribusinesses across sub-Saharan Africa.
In an interaction with FiilaNews, the Country Team Leader of the program, Mr. Jalil Zakaria explained that, the fundamental reason for the celebration was to establish a forum where major ideas will be obtained to support their efforts in achieving an increased inclusion of women, youth and small holder farmers in the agri-business for the final year of the program.
He added that, the celebration was done to also showcase the achievements and modules of the program for the past decade.
“We have been able to include more women in the business module of the partners that we work with. People have now seen the value in working with women because they bring value to their business” He said.
According to Mr. Jalil, more youth have been included in terms of employment generation where their practices are environmentally friendly.
“We have also included more young people as part of employment in off-farm activities in aggregation, service provision in inputs, tractor services, planting services…these are employment that have been generated for young people within the five value chains that we are working in” He elaborated.
In an interview with one of the beneficiaries, she affirmed that the program has aided her magnificently in her farming activities and financial stands as a whole.
She commended 2Scale and other partners of the program for the initiative.
“if not because of 2Scale and Fara Naaya I wouldn’t be here……I say bravo and may the Almighty God bless them”. She said.
Source:Fiilafmonline/ShawanaYussif
