SHONA and Biovision Foundation have launched The Neycha Accelerator & Fund (Neycha) to identify and partner with growth-oriented Agroecological Enterprises (AEEs) in Uganda providing them with the capacity, capital, and connections they need to grow their impact and businesses.
By supporting agroecological enterprises, Neycha is looking to advance food system innovators and entrepreneurs who are working toward a more regenerative and agroecological food production and contributing to a more holistic and circular agrifood economy.
Agroecological enterprises are businesses operating across the entire agricultural value chain and help farmers transition to agroecology or promote the 13 principles of agroecology through:
Organic input supply and pre-production support for farmers practising agroecology; Entrepreneurial farms practising agroecology beyond a single farm;Purchasing, trading and marketing agroecological produce &Processing agroecological produce
Others are: Retailing agroecological produce and products in markets, shops, and supermarkets; and Promoting consumption of agroecological produce and products in restaurants, hotels, homes etc.
“Based on our extensive research, The Neycha Accelerator & Fund is designed to address what AEEs in Uganda need most to grow and scale their impact: access to capacity building and suitable finance. Together, the AEEs will be able to contribute to the transformation of food systems – create new jobs and resilient communities, regenerate soils, and create fair and sustainable food systems for everyone and in harmony with nature.” Fabio Leippert, Co-Lead Policy & Advocacy, Biovision Foundation.
By combining suitable capacity building with capital and access to networks, The Neycha Accelerator & Fund seeks to highlight and build the business viability of agroecological enterprises in Uganda and make agroecology a bankable sector among investors and funds.
Through our partnership, agroecological enterprises in Uganda will be able to among others; Get capital of between USD 10,000 and USD 50,000 through direct loans and revenue share loans, tailored to the needs of the business, to be used for working capital and asset acquisition to grow revenue.
They will also grow their connections through linkages to markets, introductions to potential partners, investors & stakeholders and being showcased as an AEE role model.
Joachim Ewechu, SHONA’s CEO said: “Growth-oriented agroecological enterprises will be able to refinance multiple times, and we will support them to raise additional external investment beyond what we are providing.’’
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