By REJOYCE MUKOMA –
THE World Food Programme (WFP) has taken a significant step towards enhancing the resilience and financial inclusion of small-scale farmers with the launch of the enhanced Maano Virtual Farmers’ Market platform.
During a Business-to- Business (B2B) event at Southern Sun Ridgeway on Tuesday, WFP, country director Cissy Byenkya Kabasuuga, represented by Program Policy Officer Emmanuel Gondwe, stressed the importance of the platform in mitigating challenges smallholder farmers faced in accessing markets, financial services, and insurance.
“WFP has been supporting the Government of Zambia in strengthening the resilience of smallholder farmers and enhancing their financial inclusion. The Maano platform, developed in 2020 in partnership with Digital PayGo, facilitates market access for smallholder farmers and micro-entrepreneurs by connecting farmers and buyers, allowing for more equitable prices,” said Gondwe.