Organising smallholders through Farmer Service Centres - Purity's story

FSD Kenya, in collaboration with FSD Africa, the Farm to Market Alliance (FtMA), and 71point4, conducted a comprehensive study on Farmer Service Centres (FSCs) to explore opportunities for enhancing smallholder farmers' access to finance, particularly for women, and the role of digitisation in unlocking these financial opportunities. The research highlights the benefits of organizing farmers for better market participation, access to finance, and technology. The FSC model, introduced by FtMA, has grown to over 970 active centers in 13 counties, with many led by women. FSCs act as a bridge between farmers, private companies, and public institutions, offering services like training, input sales, and market linkages. The study suggests this approach promotes inclusive economic development by improving coordination and information flow, but also raises concerns about potential unequal power dynamics.