At COFIA, we believe in the transformative power of collective action. The COFIA Farming Collective is a multi-faceted program designed to address the diverse challenges women smallholder farmers face. By combining training, resource sharing, market access, and mentorship, the program not only supports farmers today but also equips them to lead and thrive independently tomorrow.
We believe in the strength of women, especially when they stand together. In the Women’s Farming collective, vulnerable and resource constrained farmers are placed into supportive groups and provided with shared plots. This group-based model not only addresses systematic barriers such as access to land, labor and isolation, but also fosters confidence, collaboration and peer accountability.
Women work in small groups of 3 -4 on 2-acre plots leased by COFIA. This approach fosters teamwork and creates a supportive environment where women can grow skills and confidence together – laying the foundation for long-term empowerment.
In partnership with NARO, women farmers receive expert training in modern farming techniques and are provided with essential inputs, including high-quality seeds, farming tools, and access to leased land (two acres shared by three farmers).
Each group of farmers is supported by COFIA’s Program Staff and Field Coordinators, who provide guidance and mentorship throughout the growing season.
By pooling harvests, COFIA creates the scale needed to access larger markets, sustaining both farmers and COFIA’s programs.
COFIA protects women farmers from exploitation by purchasing their harvests at fair prices, ensuring prompt payment and income stability.
A defining success of the program is the transition of women who gain confidence and skills to the Champion Farmers program. Graduates farm independently, scaling their operations and becoming role models and leaders in their communities.
Women gain the skills, confidence, and leadership opportunities needed to break the cycle of poverty and become agents of change.
The program ensures women receive fair compensation for their efforts, creating economic stability for their families.
By equipping women with the tools to improve productivity, the program contributes to a stable and diverse food supply for their communities.
The harvest pooling model supports COFIA’s operations, creating a self-sustaining program that benefits women and their communities.
Transitioning to Champion Farmers highlights the program’s long-term impact by fostering independent, skilled women who inspire and mentor others.
Through collective farming, women not only grow food—but also build lasting support networks, share resources, and create resilient, thriving villages.
Meet Harriet and Jessica—members of the COFIA Women’s Farming Collective in Magola village! In this video, Harriet shares how she’s planting Serenut 14 Red, a climate-resilient and disease-resistant groundnut variety from NaSARRI, using the best practices she’s learned through COFIA training.
With confidence and pride, she speaks about her journey, the skills she’s gained, and her big hopes for the future. For Harriet and women like her, this isn’t just farming. It’s transformation, one row at a time.
When you support COFIA Farming Collective, you equip women with land, tools and training to rise-together. Your gift turns two acres into food, income, dignity, and a path out of poverty. This isn’t just farming. It’s generational information– seeded by you.
