When I visited Agro Supply in Uganda in April 2024, I was eager to see firsthand this fast-growing enterprise's impact on its smallholder farmers' community. This visit was part of Catalsyt Fund’s venture building support to Agro Supply towards scaling its solutions to more farmers and agents while also improve its internal processes to cope with growth demands. Agro Supply’s mission as portrayed in its recent impact video, to empower smallholders with access to drought-resistant seeds and other high-quality inputs has always been compelling, but what struck me most was the depth of connection the team has built with their farmers. This relationship, grounded in trust and open communication, has become the foundation for solving even greater challenges—most notably, market access.
During my visit, I met several Agro Supply Field Agents and farmers. Gathered under the shade of a tree, with translators bridging the gap between our languages, I listened to their candid perspectives. One thing was clear: Agro Supply is more than a supplier—it is a trusted partner.
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Farmers spoke about how drought-resistant seed varieties had transformed their yields, helping them withstand increasingly unpredictable weather. Many pointed to the demo gardens as sources of inspiration, showcasing seed varieties that gave them hope for better harvests. These testimonials align with a recent 60 Decibels impact assessment commissioned by Catalyst Fund:
👉 Nearly 9 in 10 farmers say their quality of life has improved, citing higher productivity and earnings.
👉 81% of respondents reported experiencing climate shocks, primarily from drought and erratic rainfall.
👉 70% credited Agro Supply with helping them recover from these shocks.
At the heart of Agro Supply’s model is an innovative layaway savings platform that enables farmers to prepay for agricultural inputs in small increments via mobile money. This fintech solution addresses a key barrier: most farmers lack access to formal credit or capital to purchase inputs at the beginning of the season.
Through the platform, farmers save up gradually during the off-season, building financial discipline and trust while securing inputs they otherwise could not afford. Venture builders supporting Agro Supply analyzed this savings data and found steady growth in average savings per farmer—signaling both increasing confidence in the platform and enhanced financial capacity, especially for younger farmers and those starting with smaller farmer areas (<2 acres).
This simple but effective digital finance solution is critical for climate adaptation. By enabling early and affordable access to drought-resistant seeds and training, the fintech tool ensures farmers are better equipped to deal with erratic weather and other climate stresses. This is particularly impactful for women, who often have lower access to finance but play central roles in farm labor and household food security. Through venture-building support, Agro Supply received guidance to optimize its layaway system to ensure seamless adoption for its agents and smallholders alike. The layaway system also serves as a foundation to scale other benefits such as index-yield insurance, and other services to Agro Supply’s 30K+ farmers.
Recognizing that inputs alone are not enough, Agro Supply is now addressing the systemic challenge of market access. Without reliable buyers or price guarantees, many smallholders are forced to sell at low prices or let crops go to waste.
Agro Supply’s solution? A new grain processing facility that will offer farmers a guaranteed market at fair prices. Located close to its farmer network, the factory will process crops such as maize and sorghum, giving smallholders a predictable buyer and unlocking new income opportunities.
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Farmers I spoke with were enthusiastic about reinvesting their profits into expanding their operations. Some shared plans to diversify into animal husbandry, with access to affordable animal feed from the factory’s by-products as a crucial enabler. While there were other pain points some of the smallholders faced with additional labour support for cultivation and harvesting, and post-harvest handling, what stood out was a predictable source of income via market access at the time of harvesting.
Agro Supply’s factory represents more than infrastructure—it is a linchpin for a circular economy model that benefits farmers at every stage of the value chain:
This dual play of inputs and offtake fosters a virtuous cycle—as the farmer base grows, processing capacity scales, further strengthening Agro Supply’s sustainability and impact potential.
One of the highlights of my trip was spending time with the Agro Supply team. Their dedication and passion for uplifting their community were evident in every interaction. Whether touring the site for the new factory or enjoying a local Ugandan dish in a small restaurant in Lira, it was clear that this is a team deeply rooted in the region and committed to its people.
The photos from my visit tell the story: farmers gathered around demo gardens, curious and engaged; Field Agents sharing insights under the shade of a tree; and the team strategizing on how to scale their impact. Each image is a testament to the trust Agro Supply has built and the bright future it is helping to shape.
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Agro Supply’s journey is a compelling case of how fintech, agriculture, and climate resilience can intersect to unlock real change. By addressing both sides of the agricultural equation—inputs and market access—they are enabling smallholder farmers to not just survive, but thrive.
With continued support, including from the Catalyst Fund’s venture-building program, Agro Supply is positioned to scale this holistic model across Uganda and beyond. Their approach offers a blueprint for how locally rooted enterprises, powered by simple yet effective fintech, can transform food systems and improve livelihoods for those most vulnerable to climate change.
For Uganda’s smallholders—especially women and those on the frontlines of climate shocks—the future looks brighter than ever.
UNIDO supports the Catalyst Fund via the "Acceleration of Financial Technology Enabled Climate Resilience Solutions" project funded by the Global Environment Facility and executed by BFA Global in collaboration with the implementing entity, UNIDO. Operating in five African countries—Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda—the project aims to foster the growth of fintech-enabled climate resilience solutions positively impacting the well-being of vulnerable communities.
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