ECOM offer tailored services through a Sustainable Management Services (SMS) that farmers are willing to pay for.

How it works

SMS has evolved into a dedicated service provider for smallholder farmers. Its aim is to become financially unaided by ECOM’s commercial returns via trading or processing additional volumes sourced from the farmers served by SMS.

SMS is increasingly charging smallholders for the services provided, making it possible for SMS to serve farmers that are not part of ECOM’s supply chain. Charging smallholder farmers for services has the added benefit of providing immediate feedback on the quality of services as farmers are unlikely to pay for these services if they see no real added value.

Key Outcomes

SMS, making service delivery financially sustainable on its own rather than seeing it as a cost center, serves as a protection against internal budget cuts. Moreover, it increases SMS’s ability to attract donor funding as well as commercial finance for further expansion.