INPUT MARKET INCLUSIVENESS Through the last mile distribution model

This case study looks at Musika’s work in Zambia’s agriculture input market. Musika’s investment objective in this area was to improve the functionality of productivity enhancing agricultural input markets for smallholder farmers through developing the capacities of private agricultural retail firms in the seed, agrochemical, crop nutrition and equipment sectors and industry associations.  It targeted to incorporate smallholder easy access to improved inputs and extension services. With a target of 250,000 farmers accessing improved inputs, Musika stimulated smallholders’ access to agricultural inputs by buying down initial investment risk for the private sector players to invest in the rural communities. The aim of the intervention was to ensure that every rural farmer has equal chance and opportunity to access improved agricultural inputs coupled with extension services. The intervention was coined the ‘last mile’ distribution model.