Mashandilo Co-operative

Empowering smallholder farmers for rural development and food security
2016 SEED Africa Award; Government of Flanders
Sustainable Agriculture
Zambezi Region
Namibia

The Mashandilo farming co-operative distributes vegetable products to the local population, building a strong sales network and brand. The member-led enterprise provides training for smallholder farmers, develops distribution channels and supports the adaptation towards sustainable agriculture innovation.

Membership fees and shared revenues allow the cooperative to pool resources for storing, marketing of goods and reducing costs for inputs and equipment. Mashandilo constantly increases the productivity of its members by promoting resource-efficient technology.

Eco-Inclusive Impacts
The Mashandilo co-operative helps to improve the productivity and market access of its members, giving smallholders and their families new economic opportunities. The co-operative decreases individual costs for agriculture inputs and equipment and provides training on sustainable agriculture techniques and business skills.
  • Increasing local food security by providing fresh vegetable for >7,000 residents of the Zambezi Region.
  • Improving the social participation of women smallholder farmers by providing an occupational perspective, targeting a member share of 60% women.
  • Increasing public awareness of the benefits of sustainable agriculture.
  • Reducing the amount of water for horticulture production by piloting micro-drip irrigation.
  • Slowing soil degradation and desertification caused by traditional agriculture methods.
  • Enhancing smallholder resilience to droughts.
  • Reducing the use of chemical inputs such as pesticides and fertiliser.
  • Generating additional income for 75 smallholder farmers within the next five years.
  • Reducing costs for agriculture input supplies and equipment.
  • Facilitating microloans for members to invest in micro-drip irrigation equipment.
  • Reduce dependency of local consumers on agriculture imports.

Partners

Mashandilo is a co-operative of smallholder farmers committed to improving its members’ market integration by promoting resource-efficient innovation in agriculture production and providing a wide range of member services.

The Mashandilo Co-operative provides a wide range of support services to its members including training as well as marketing and distribution of horticultural produce.

Agri Connexions Africa supports Mashandilo in its business development through training and the provision of technical and financial support.

Namibian Development Trust supports the organisational development of the co-operative through facilitation of training workshops focusing on women entrepreneurship.

The Namibian Organic Association provides support with regards to sustainable resource management and organic agriculture technology.