Modern agriculture is applied technology. Millions of African farmers do not embrace it. They live in poverty. If care is not taken, their children will inherit their life-style. Our ambition is to offer farmers and their families new paths towards prosperity. To join the Phoenix community, click here.
Our Idea
We believe that a small group of highly skilled specialists need to be engaged in Nigeria's agriculture to replace millions of farmers. In consequence, farmers need to be shown a path towards a new life in sectors outside agriculture.
Our Approach
The model identified as most appropriate to solve this socio-economic issue is called “Maschinen-Ring” (German for “Equipment Pool”). It was initiated by a German farmer in 1958 with the objective of empowering smallholders to mechanize their operations and jointly own equipment. Over time it became evident that even mechanization and finance is not sufficient to keep small farming units profitable. Members of the “Equipment Pool” agreed to aggregate their farmland to sizes, which allowed profitable operations. Many “Passive Farmers” leased their land to few ”Active Farmers”, who paid Passive Farmers. Passive Farmers engaged in jobs along the agricultural value chain or in other sectors. But the “Toxic Nature” of big farmers taking over land from small farmers and leaving them in poverty was solved by enabling small farmers to remain owners of the land and collecting rent for land they own, while working in other sectors.
Our Value
Phoenix empowers farmers to remain land owners and exit poverty.