Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – CASA (Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness),
a programme funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
through International Climate Finance (ICF), has partnered with Biosafe Biofertilizer
Manufacturing (BBM) to promote the use of Rhizobium inoculant for increased soybean
production among smallholder farmers in Ethiopia.
BBM, a private bio-fertilizer company established in 2018 and based in Addis Ababa, aims to
become the leading bio-fertilizer producer in the country. The company is currently
manufacturing and distributing Rhizobium inoculant, an effective, reliable, and eco-friendly
product, to farmers across Ethiopia, including key CASA geographies in the Oromia region. The
partnership project is focused on high soybean production zones in Jimma and Buno Bedele.
CASA’s Role in Supporting Agri-SMEs
CASA is dedicated to driving global investment in climate-resilient agri-food systems that
enhance smallholder farmer incomes. The programme’s strategy includes:
- Showcasing the commercial viability and investment-readiness of small and medium-
sized agribusinesses (SMEs) with significant smallholder supply chains. - Assisting investors in maximizing the impact of their investments through inclusive
technical assistance. - Strengthening the socio-legal empowerment of smallholder farmers within agricultural
value chains. - Addressing information and evidence gaps to facilitate increased investments in
smallholder-focused agribusinesses.
As part of its mission, CASA is implementing targeted interventions in Ethiopia, Malawi, Nepal,
and Rwanda to prepare agri-SMEs for investment while enhancing smallholder access to
commercial markets.
BBM’s Business Model and the Digitalization Initiative
BBM collaborates with seed enterprises, SMEs, cooperatives, and agro-dealers to supply
integrated packages of inoculant and improved seeds through contract farming arrangements. As part of the current partnership, CASA plans to provide short-term technical assistance (STTA)
for digitalizing BBM’s distribution process for Rhizobium inoculant. This initiative aims to
enhance data collection, organization, analysis, and dissemination of insights to BBM’s business
partners, supporting overall business growth and expansion.
To facilitate this process, BBM will hire a full-time Digitalization and Data Management Expert
from December 16, 2024, to December 31, 2025. This expert will oversee the MBI digitalization
system related to inoculant production, sales, analysis, and reporting. The data-driven approach
will provide valuable insights to key business partners, including CASA, seed enterprises, SMEs,cooperatives, and agro-dealers, ensuring effective dissemination of lessons learned and best practices.
Training and Knowledge Exchange in Jimma and Buno Bedele
As part of the initiative, a four-day training and experience exchange event will be held in Jimma
and Buno Bedele districts from March 22 to 25, 2025. The training will focus on best practices
for inoculant application, contract farming strategies, and efficient distribution models.
Additionally, CASA and BBM plan to establish sustainable distribution channels to ensure wider
accessibility of Rhizobium inoculant to smallholder farmers.
This partnership represents a significant step toward enhancing soybean productivity and
strengthening climate-smart agricultural practices in Ethiopia. By leveraging digital tools and
targeted interventions, CASA and BBM aim to improve smallholder farmers’ access to essential
bio-fertilizers, ultimately contributing to a more resilient and profitable agricultural sector.