EXPERTISE
Agricultural Policy IFDC advises and supports agricultural policy reform processes , including building the capacity of key stakeholders in Ministries of Agriculture , other government agencies , the private sector , and civil society organizations ( inclusive of organizations that represent farmers , cooperatives , agro-dealers , and related industries ). IFDC remains engaged as a contributor to the policy reform processes undertaken by the African Union ' s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme ( CAADP ), and it led the effort to organize the Africa Fertilizer Summit in 2006 , which resulted in the Abuja Declaration on Fertilizer for an African Green Revolution . IFDC collaborates and partners with a number of regional economic communities ( such as ECOWAS and SADC ) to stimulate regional cooperation . IFDC ’ s policy advice is aimed at improving food and nutrition security by supporting entrepreneurship along the entire food value chain from input markets to consumers in the country of origin or in export markets . 1
Capacity Building Each year , IFDC trains nearly 1 million farmers , agribusiness owners , and other stakeholders in the agribusiness value chain to help them become more efficient , environmentally responsible , and profitable . Women make up more than 30 percent of training participants .
IFDC also offers specialized training programs to agriculture professionals , including policymakers , researchers , entrepreneurs , and business people . Since 1974 , IFDC has trained more than 11,000 participants from more than 100 countries . 2
Fertilizer Research and Development IFDC works with governments , research organizations and institutions , and private sector companies and entrepreneurs to develop new fertilizers , technologies , and farm practices . Our innovative ideas offer a paradigm shift in fertilizer packaging and in the delivery of nutrients to targeted crops . 3 IFDC emphasizes balanced fertilization and crop nutrition , specifically the use of secondary and micronutrients . 4 We are the only non-profit organization capable of bringing fertilizer ideas from the lab to production to the field . 5
BALANCED FERTILIZERS
Just as humans need a balanced diet including minerals and vitamins in addition to carbohydrates , fats , and proteins , plants need secondary and micronutrients , in addition to nitrogen , phosphorus , and potassium ( NPK ). Micronutrients – such as zinc , iron , boron , and copper – are essential to improve crop yield and nutritional value of produce , enhance resilience of crops to drought , disease , and climate change , and increase biomass production to support soil health .
Integrated Soil Fertility Management ( ISFM ) ISFM combines mineral fertilizers , locally available soil amendments ( such as lime and phosphate rock ), and organic matter ( such as cover crops and manure ) to replenish soil nutrients and maximize nutrient and water efficiency . In Rwanda , Burundi , and the Democratic Republic of the Congo ( DRC ), introduction of IFDC-supported ISFM practices has helped double farmers ’ agricultural productivity and raise their incomes by 20 to 50 percent . 6
For lowland rice , IFDC has been instrumental in developing and scaling fertilizer deep placement ( FDP ). FDP is a fertilizer application technology that involves placing solid briquettes directly into the soil , resulting in average increased crop yields of 15-20 percent while using one-third less fertilizer than is recommended using typical broadcast application methods . Data also shows that FDP technology significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions . 7 In Bangladesh , an estimated 2 million rice farmers have adopted FDP technology . In 2015 , smallholder farmers in Mali who were trained to use FDP technology increased their gross profits for rice by $ 573 per hectare .
Market Development IFDC helps producers not only improve yields , it also links farmers to input and output markets . For example , our Toward Sustainable Clusters in Agribusiness through Learning in Entrepreneurship ( 2SCALE ) project engages more than 50 value chain partnerships . Local agribusiness capacity is bolstered by providing technical assistance and brokering partnerships with financial institutions and business support services . 2SCALE helps private firms find business opportunities for sourcing products from , or selling agro-inputs to , smallholder farmers in Africa . More than 450,000 farmers are involved in agribusiness clusters , collectively selling millions of dollars of crops to buyers .
ADDITIONAL AREAS OF EXPERTISE
• Agro-Dealer Development
• Agro-Economic Market Research and Assessments
• Bench- , Laboratory- , and Pilot Plant-Scale Processing Studies
• Crop Simulation Modeling
• Market Information Systems
• Pilot Plant Production and Agronomic Evaluation of New Products
• Production Cost Analyses
• Public-Private Partnerships