Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness (CASA Project) : Strengthening Farmers Organizations and Facilitating Small Holder Access to Commercial Markets 

Project in Detail: With the financial support of the UK Government, Foreign Commonwealth Development Office(FCDO) the first phase of the partnership focused on enhancing the capacity of 25 selected agricultural cooperatives of Madesh Province and Lumbini Province  to reduce post-harvest losses and improve vegetable sales. As the project transitions to Phase II, the emphasis shifts to building the capacities of both NACCFL and the cooperatives to adopt climate-resilient agricultural practices in response to the threats posed by climate change, as highlighted by the recent National Climate Survey.

In Phase II, the project will provide Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) training to 27,000 small farmers households and will engage with 30 new agri-cooperatives of Provinces Madesh, Lumbini, and Karnali to integrate CSA practices and technologies. An agriculture and climate expert team will develop a Climate Change Adaptation Manual for ongoing training of cooperatives post-project.

Additionally, 12 potential member cooperatives who already operate the small/medium scale agro enterprises will receive support for market expansion through the development of business plans and marketing strategies, with the assistance of business consultants. This effort aims to boost operations, encourage aggregation, and incorporate more member farmers into their supply chains, thereby providing guaranteed markets. Following successful pilot outcomes, NACCFL intends to extend this expertise to other member cooperatives seeking to enhance their trading activities.

The project is set to operate from August 2024 to August 2025 and includes both technical assistance and grant support from CASA. In Phase I, more than 15,000 farmers were trained (among which more than 85% were women), while Phase II aims to train an additional 27,000 farmers members.

Updated: Feb 2025

What is CASA Programme ?

The CASA Programme, supported by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) under its International Climate Finance (ICF) initiative, highlights the economic rationale for global and national investments in climate-resilient agri-food systems that boost the incomes of smallholder farmers. By adopting a market systems development approach, CASA promotes increased investment in agribusinesses, demonstrating the commercial viability and developmental impact of inclusive business models. Through this initiative, CASA aims to unlock the potential of climate-resilient agriculture, benefiting both farmers and the broader agri-food sector.

For more info: Visit Official Website : https://casaprogramme.com/