By Navneet S. Chugh
When you meet Anna Hainze, Chief of Staff to the Managing Director at One Acre Fund, you immediately sense her passion for farmers. “Our mission is simple but powerful,” she told me. “We want to make smallholder farmers more prosperous by giving them the tools they need to grow more food and earn more income.”
India West met with Ms. Hainze at the 20th annual Clinton Global Initiative in New York and the discussion ranged from funders of One Acre to its mission to program details.
Founded in 2006, One Acre Fund has grown into one of the most innovative nonprofit social enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa. The name reflects its focus: most African farmers cultivate less than one acre of land. With the right support, even that small plot can become the foundation for a better life.
Tools, Training, and Trust
One Acre Fund provides farmers with high-quality seeds, fertilizer, and solar lights—offered on credit rather than cash. It also delivers hands-on training in modern farming techniques and financial management. “Instead of just handing out money, we give farmers the resources to succeed,” Hainze explained. “That builds resilience and dignity.”
The program doesn’t end at planting. One Acre Fund helps farmers connect to markets so they can sell their surplus at fairer prices. It also experiments with innovations like tree planting, crop insurance, and soil health programs to build long-term sustainability.
A Growing Impact
The scale is impressive: more than four million farmers are now served across Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Malawi, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Zambia. On average, participating farmers see their crop yields rise by 50 percent or more.
“Every additional harvest means more meals for families, school fees for children, or savings for the future,” Hainze said. “It’s not just about food security—it’s about dignity and opportunity.”
Adapting to Climate Change
As climate shocks increasingly threaten rural livelihoods, One Acre Fund is adapting its programs. Farmers are taught to intercrop, diversify crops, and plant trees to protect soil and water. “Climate change is real, and it is already hitting farmers the hardest,” Hainze noted. “We are investing in climate resilience so smallholders can withstand uncertainty.”
What India Can Learn
India, too, is a nation of smallholder farmers. With nearly 85 percent of Indian farmers cultivating less than two hectares, their struggles mirror those of their African counterparts. One Acre Fund’s approach offers lessons:
- Inputs on Credit, Not Cash: Supplying seeds and fertilizer on credit ensures funds are used productively.
- Training as Essential as Tools: Personalized training equips farmers with modern methods, something India’s extension services often lack.
- Climate Resilience: By teaching intercropping, tree planting, and soil conservation, One Acre Fund helps farmers withstand climate shocks—critical for India’s climate-vulnerable agriculture.
- Market Access: Farmers earn more when connected to fair markets, a gap still evident across rural India.
A Model for Development
Development experts often cite One Acre Fund as a data-driven, scalable model that delivers measurable results. By combining microfinance, agriculture, and market linkages, the organization has redefined how aid can empower rather than create dependency.
As Hainze reflected: “Our dream is that one day, no child goes hungry because their parents are farmers who have the tools to thrive.”
