The Village-based Advisor (VBA) model is FIPS’ flagship, community-led approach for delivering last-mile agricultural support to smallholder farmersFIPS’ strategic plan sets out a pathway to transform farm level livelihood, strengthen agricultural systems while promoting innovation and sharing lessons across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Village-based Advisor (VBA) model is FIPS’ flagship, community-led approach for delivering last-mile agricultural support to smallholder farmers. VBAs are trusted farmers, selected by farmers within the communities they live in for their integrity and leadership, and trained by FIPS to provide hands-on advice, affordable inputs, and practical, frugal technologies directly at the farm gate.
Using a whole-village approach, VBAs help every household test and adopt improved seeds, soil health solutions, and climate-smart practices through small trial packs and on-farm demonstrations, enhancing productivity, strengthening resilience, and opening market opportunities for smallholder farmers.
The model is sustainable because it is market-driven and locally owned. VBAs grow into self-reliant micro-entrepreneurs who earn income by supplying inputs, offering advisory services, and linking farmers to markets.
FIPS’ VBA model lies at the centre of our whole-village approach, ensuring every household—women, men, youth, and marginalised groups—can access practical, affordable technologies.
FIPS’ VBA model lies at the centre of our whole-village approach, ensuring every household—women, men, youth, and marginalised groups—can access practical, affordable technologies. VBAs use small trial packs and on-farm demonstrations to help farmers test improved seeds, soil solutions, pest control methods, and climate-smart practices before investing.
Every household can access practical, affordable technologies regardless of gender or social status.
Small trial packs enable farmers to validate technologies before making larger investments.
Inclusive approach drives village-wide productivity gains and market-oriented growth.
VBAs provide frequent, personalized support that many public extension systems cannot reach. Through continuous training from FIPS, they translate scientific recommendations into simple, actionable steps that improve productivity, food security, nutrition, and household income.
VBAs supply quality inputs, deliver hands-on demonstrations, offer climate-smart advice, and promote low-cost innovations that raise productivity and resilience across diverse farming systems.
VBAs aggregate produce for better prices, mentor youth enterprises, and create sustainable market connections that benefit entire communities over the long term.
Learn more about where FIPS works, the value chains we support, our impact, case studies, and publications.
Improving soil health and resilience through:
Distribution of high-yield, resilient staple seeds:
Quality seedlings, nutrition, and management:
Maximizing yield and market profitability:
Boosting dairy productivity through:
Advancing poultry health and productivity:
Your participation makes a real difference. Help smallholder farmers gain access to essential resources and knowledge for sustainable practices. Together, let’s build a thriving agricultural community!