Food systems accelerator report: Strengthening smallholder sorghum contract farming business model in Mbire District

The CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator (CFSA) program is a science-driven accelerator designed within the CGIAR Initiative on Agroecology and the Initiative on Diversification in East and Southern Africa, to support agribusinesses scale agroecological and climate-smart innovations that address pressing challenges in Agrifood systems. The tailored science-based technical assistance provided within the accelerator program provides the agribusinesses companies with the necessary tools and knowledge to become more commercially viable and sustainable. This approach promotes sustainable farming practices and businesses that can enhance food production while mitigating the impact of climate change. The program prioritizes agribusinesses scaling innovations designed with a user-centric approach for smallholder farmers and businesses that have a strong potential for commercial sustainability. Through the Agroecology Initiative, the accelerator program provided small grants to agroecology businesses to help speed up the agroecological transition within the business models identified within the Initiative. The agribusiness companies selected for the implementation of agroecology grants are those that are already implementing agroecological innovations on various componentsof the agri-food system and the identified business models in the Mbire Agroecological Living Landscape (ALLS).Agrowth’s mandate in the Agroecology Initiative focuses on advancing sustainable agricultural practices while supporting smallholder farmers in Mbire through debt financing of sorghum production. The company provides physical inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and chemicals on credit, along with agronomic support through a resident field officer. This officer ensures farmers receive training and guidance on best production practices to achieve high yields. Agrowth guarantees market access by offering harvested sorghum competitively, clearing farmers’ credit first, and transferring the excess as profit. This model integrates financial support with technical expertise to promote farmer productivity and income growth.The commercialization of red sorghum under this initiative is central to advancing agroecological transitions towards sustainable food systems. Key impacts include promoting resilient climate-smartcrops, markets, and income streams; reducing input and biochemical usage to enhance soil health; and leveraging synergies between crop and livestock systems. Agrowth fosters knowledge cocreation, blending farmers’ Indigenous sorghum expertise with participatory training for commercial production. Sorghum’s resilience in dry conditions, combined with its use in food and cultural traditions, aligns well with the local context, enhancing food and nutrition security. Additionally, the company’s governance introduces farmers to formalized production systems, while the shortened value chain creates a circular and solidarity economy that benefits both producers and processors.