The BAGC currently manages three projects and partnerships that operate within the corridor. These include the commercially focused Inputs Partnership, the World Bank’s Smallholder Irrigated Agriculture and Market Access Project- IRRIGA 1 and the IFAD funded Rural Enterprise Finance Project he World Food Programme’s Zero Post-Harvest Loss Project.
The US$ 72.5 million Rural Enterprise Finance Project includes a $62.1 million grant from IFAD. The programme is cofinanced by the Government of Mozambique ($4.3 million), the beneficiaries themselves ($1.1 million) and the private sector ($5.0 million). BAGC has signed an MoU with IFAD to facilitate access by rural business operators to financial products. This is helping operators develop business plans for financing. TThe target beneficiaries are farmers and traders with two new facilities a) a Line of Credit managed by BNI and b) a crowding in fund (matching grant) to support beneficiaries.
The objectives of the US$ 55 million Smallholder Irrigated Agriculture and Market Access Project- IRRIGA 1 are to improve smallholder agriculture productivity and market access in the project areas developed with irrigation and provide effective response to an eligible crisis or emergency. Witjhin the programme BAGC is supporting a number of financing instruments that are targeting irrigation schemes within the corridor. Grants can be made available to farmers for items such as small storage and primary packing sheds. There is also an eVoucher system being put in pace for farmers to purchase inputs from agrodealers. BAGC will ensure that farmers and traders under the Inputs Partnership project gain access to the IRRIGA funded financing windows.