Course Details

Agro Entrepreneurship & Market Facilitation Course

INTRODUCTION

An Agro Entrepreneurship & Market Facilitation course typically focuses on equipping participants with the skills and knowledge needed to start, manage, and scale agribusiness ventures. It also emphasizes the importance of market access and the facilitation of value chains in agricultural markets.For rural development and poverty alleviation, marketing of agricultural produce by smallholder farmers is key. Markets provide the means through which the rural poor participate in economic activities as producers, as employees and as consumers of goods and services.

Smallholder farmers’ production is not linked to the market. Linking smallholder farmers to existing and new income-generating agro-processing enterprises is necessary for rural development and poverty alleviation. This Agro Entrepreneurship & Market Facilitation course programme aims at building the agro-enterprise capacity of rural development practitioners to enable them facilitate the market integration of the most vulnerable beneficiaries. The participants will be guided through participatory processes for identifying market opportunities and developing viable agro-enterprises that are sustainable and which are geared towards improving the incomes of rural farmers, processors, and traders.

DURATION

5 days

TARGET AUDIENCE

This course is intended for various actors in the Agriculture Extension (Agricultural extension officers, senior agricultural officials and policy makers) working with communities, in governments, funding agencies, Research organizations and non-government organizations among others for Agriculture support activities and other Development programmes.

OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of the course, participants will:

• Help farmers engage with markets.
• Apply skills in participatory methods for farmers in Market analysis and decision making.
• Guide in market identification and selection of attractive enterprise options, based on information gathered from the market and market chain.
• Build agro-enterprise skills within the community so that groups can continue to effectively engage with the marketplace in the future.
• Able to identify what the spirit of entrepreneurship is, who has it, how to identify it and how to harness this spirit to promote sound business development.
• Understand the tools for business planning.
• Able to identify tools for working with a community.

COURSE CONTENT 

Module 1. Introduction to Agro Entrepreneurship

• Definition and scope of agribusiness.
• Characteristics of agro entrepreneurs.
• Opportunities and challenges in agriculture.
• Understanding the agricultural value chain.

Module 2. Agricultural Market Systems

• Understanding agricultural markets: local, national, and international.
• Market demand and supply dynamics.
• Identifying profitable markets for agricultural products.
• Market research tools and techniques.

Module 3. Business Planning and Development

• Crafting a business plan for an agribusiness.
• Identifying viable business models for agro ventures.
• Budgeting, financial forecasting, and sustainability.
• Accessing funding: loans, grants, and investments.
• Risk management and mitigation in agribusiness.

Module 4. Value Addition in Agribusiness

• Processing and packaging techniques.
• Quality control and standards compliance.
• Branding and product differentiation.
• Leveraging technology for production and marketing.

Module 5. Market Facilitation and Access

• Developing supply chain networks.
• Facilitating linkages between farmers, markets, and service providers.
• E-commerce and digital platforms for agricultural trade.
• Export opportunities and international trade regulations.

Module 6. Agribusiness Marketing Strategies

• Marketing tools and techniques for agribusiness products.
• Creating effective marketing campaigns.
• Customer relationship management.
• Social media and digital marketing for agriculture.

Module 7. Sustainable Agriculture and Business Models

• Importance of sustainable practices in agriculture.
• Climate-smart agriculture.
• Organic farming and green certification.
• Circular economy models in agribusiness.

Module 8. Entrepreneurial Leadership and Management Skills

• Leadership and decision-making in agribusiness.
• Human resource management in agriculture.
• Negotiation, networking, and partnerships.
• Communication and stakeholder management.

Module 9. Policies and Regulations in Agribusiness

• Government policies affecting agribusiness.
• Navigating agricultural subsidies and incentives.
• Legal and regulatory requirements for agribusiness.

Module 10. Case Studies and Practical Applications

• Real-life examples of successful agro entrepreneurs.
• Group projects: developing a market facilitation plan.
• Field visits to agro-processing units or markets.

METHODOLOGY

This course will utilize a variety of proven adult learning techniques to ensure maximum understanding, comprehension and retention of the information presented

CERTIFICATION

• Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with a Macskills Training and Development Institute Certificate

TRAINING VENUE

• Training will be held at Macskills Training Centre. We also tailor make the training upon request at different locations across the world.

AIRPORT PICK UP AND ACCOMMONDATION

• Airport pick up and accommodation is arranged upon request

TERMS OF PAYMENT

• Payment should be made to Macskills Development Institute bank account before the start of the training and receipts sent to info@macskillsdevelopment.com