- Published by
- USAID Feed the Future
This learning brief discusses the challenges and opportunities in improving access to quality agricultural inputs for smallholder farmers, particularly in Uganda's Inclusive Agricultural Markets (IAM) Activity.
It highlights the importance of agent and hub distribution models that bring agricultural inputs closer to farmers, making them more accessible and affordable. These models also emphasise the role of agents and hub managers in building trust, driving sales and supporting farmer communities through consistent engagement and knowledge sharing.
The brief underscores the financial sustainability of these models and the impact of digital platforms designed with farmer input. It illustrates the potential for increased sales, improved input adoption and better data utilisation for decision-making.
Recommendations include developing cost-effective marketing strategies, collecting and leveraging sales data, and addressing support functions such as access to credit and extension services to expand the market potential for agribusinesses.