Farmer support and financing

Community Farming Enhancement Program (CFEP)

Inputs, irrigation support, technical expertise and crop insurance for community farmer groups, repaid from the harvest.

About the Program

FarmMate’s Community Farming Enhancement Program (CFEP) is an integrated farmer support and financing model designed to improve productivity, reduce production risks and strengthen smallholder participation in commercial agriculture. Through access to quality inputs, irrigation, technical expertise, crop insurance and structured financing, CFEP equips farmers to achieve consistent yields and quality standards. Harvest-linked repayments support a revolving financing mechanism for subsequent production cycles.

CFEP works hand in hand with the Out-Grower Scheme. Every CFEP group farms under an out-grower contract, so the harvest that repays the support already has a guaranteed buyer.

What the Package Covers

Improved Seed

Quality tomato seed suited to your area and season.

Crop Nutrition and Protection

Fertilisers and crop protection products, delivered after the seed.

Soil Testing

A soil test before planting, so inputs match what your land needs.

Irrigation Support

Help to water your crop reliably through the season.

Technical Assistance

FarmMate field officers and agronomists working with your group to harvest.

Multi-Peril Crop Insurance

Cover that protects the group if the crop fails for reasons outside its control.

How Repayment Works

There is no cash to repay before harvest. Our field officers explain the package value and terms to your group before anyone signs.

Support Before Planting

FarmMate provides the package to the group before the season starts.

Repaid from the Harvest

The group sells its tomatoes to FarmMate, and the support is recovered from those sales.

A Revolving Fund

Repayments go back into the fund, which finances the next group and the next season.

Requirements

Who Can Join

Smallholders farming together as a community group or farmer-based organisation (FBO)
At least 10 acres between the group
At least three years’ experience growing tomatoes
A shared water source for irrigation
Land the group can farm for the full season
Agree to sell the harvest to FarmMate under an out-grower contract

How to Join

1
Register Your Group
A group leader fills in the form below.
2
Screening Call
Our team calls to check the group, its land, water and experience.
3
Field Visit and Soil Test
A field officer visits, tests the soil and marks the plots.
4
Agreements
The group signs the out-grower contract, the Offtake Schedule and the CFEP credit agreement.
5
Inputs Delivered
Seed first, then crop nutrition and protection, with field support throughout.
6
Harvest and Repay
FarmMate buys the harvest, recovers the support and pays the group the balance.

For community groups

Register Your Group for CFEP

Group leaders: tell us about your group and our team will call you.

Thank you.

Our field team will call the group leader within [X] working days.