Large Outgrower Schemes Assessed by TechnoServe (2014)
To better understand the challenges and best practices in operating large-scale, long-standing outgrower
schemes, TechnoServe assessed 25 of the largest outgrower programs in sub-Saharan Africa, each
involving at least 15,000 farmers and many in operation for decades.
Country
Crop
No. of
outgrowers
565,000
250,000 (est. no.
benefiting from
credit scheme)
170,000
Year established
Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA)
Export Trading Group (ETG)
Kenya
Tanzania
Tea
Maize
NWK Agri-Services
Zambia
Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco)
Mozambique Leaf Tobacco (Universal)
National Smallholders Association
(NASFAM)
Mumias Sugar Company
One Acre Fund
Cargill Zambia
COMACO
Frigoken
Great Lakes Cotton Company (Plexus)
Kilimanjaro Native Co-operative Union
(KNCU)
Gulu Agricultural Development
Company (GADC)
Mukwano Group (Mukwano Agro
Project Limited)
Kuapa Kokoo Cooperative
Alliance One
Olam Zambia
PALMCI
Olam Ghana
British American Tobacco Company
Uganda (BATU)
ETG Parrogate
Biolands Kyela (Barry Callebaut)
Cheetah Co
SABMiller
Zimbabwe
Mozambique
Malawi
Cotton (also
maize, soy)
Cotton
Tobacco
Maize, groundnuts
155,600
120,000
100,000
1997
1996
1997
Kenya
Kenya
Zambia
Zambia
Kenya
Malawi
Tanzania
Sugar
Maize
Cotton (also soy)
Various
Horticulture
Cotton
Coffee
83,650
80,000
70,000
70,000
62,000
60,000
60,000-95,000
1971
2006
2006
2006
1989
1994
1925
Uganda
55,000
2009
Uganda
Cotton (also
sesame and chili)
Oilseeds
54,000
1989
Ghana
Tanzania
Zambia
Cote D’Ivoire
Ghana
Uganda
Cocoa
Tobacco
Cotton
Palm oil
Cashew
Tobacco
50,000
30,000
30,000
28,000
26,000
20,000-65,000
1993
2005
2007
1999
1994
1927
Zimbabwe
Tanzania
Malawi
Uganda
Cotton
Cocoa
Paprika and chili
Sorghum and
barley
20,000
23,000
15,000-20,000
15,000
2012
1999
1996
2001
1964
1967
2000
Note: Some of these schemes utilize a slightly different model than traditional contract farming programs
(e.g. COMACO and One Acre Fund are donor subsidized; NASFAM and KNCU are farmer-owned
cooperatives engaged in input financing).
TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms,
businesses and industries. For more information about our organization, our work in financial inclusion or
outgrower schemes, or to request the study referenced above, please contact us at [email protected].