ABOUT US
Mahesh Patel
“As farmers grow, we grow.”
— Mahesh Patel
An agribusiness leader and philanthropist, Mahesh Patel is credited with building one of the largest and fastest-growing agriculture supply chain companies in Sub-Saharan Africa by successfully linking millions of smallholder African farmers to a diverse pool of global buyers. Over the years, Mahesh has built several profitable impact ventures combining his passion for uplifting farmers through better opportunities with his strong business acumen.
ETC Group (ETG)
ETG has developed into a global conglomerate with a presence in more than 45 countries, spanning 6 continents. The Group has a diverse portfolio of expertise across various industries, encompassing agricultural inputs, chemicals, logistics, processing, food and food ingredients, energy, metals, technology and supply chain optimization. Over 7000 employees contribute every day to achieve ETG’s vision and purpose, and live its values of Respect, Integrity, Pursuit of Excellence, Leadership and Meritocracy. ETG’s verticals are structured in a manner to emphasize focus and optimize strategic growth opportunities. We adapt and grow responsibly as a diversified enterprise, creating a sustainable future for all our stakeholders.
Sustainable Development in Africa
Mahesh Patel advocates a fundamental mindset shift: seeing smallholders as business partners rather than aid recipients. This was the reason he established the Empowering Farmers Foundation in 2013. He believes that true sustainability in African agriculture is achieved when smallholders are empowered to thrive. This approach not only leads to individual prosperity but also uplifts entire communities and the agricultural sector as a whole.
Through EFF’s work, it becomes clear that partnerships, empowerment, and market integration are the pillars of sustainable development in Africa. Collaborative efforts among governments, NGOs, international organisations, and the private sector are essential. Empowering smallholders with resources, knowledge, and market access is the key to lasting change.
EFF officially registered in Mauritius marking the beginning of its journey towards empowering farmers
EFF began its operations in Tanzania
EFF expanded its reach to Zambia
EFF underwent a name change from ETG Farmers Foundation to Empowering Farmers Foundation
Subsequently, EFF extended its operations to Kenya
Additionally, EFF expanded its operations to Mozambique
Empowering Farmers Foundation (EFF) sprouted from a profound understanding of the agricultural market and its demands in 2013. Born out of the expertise of marketers at ETC Group (ETG) who grasp the pulse of what sells and what it takes to produce, EFF emerged with a clear mission: to enhance crop production while addressing the evolving needs of farmers.
At EFF, we embarked on a journey driven by a deep-seated commitment to agricultural development. Our initial challenge was daunting yet inspiring: how could we support farmers battling climate change while fostering sustainable livelihoods and soil fertility?
This question led us to explore new value chains across diverse geographies, seeking crops that could thrive amidst environmental challenges while ensuring economic viability for farmers. We recognised that to truly make a difference, we needed to bridge the gap between small-scale farmers and a spectrum of vital services.
Through collaboration with market buyers, government agencies, research institutions, donor organisations, input suppliers, transportation companies, farming technology firms, and impact investors, EFF strives to address the complex issues surrounding global economic, political, and environmental instability.
Our approach goes beyond empowering farmers; it’s about building resilient communities and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Through partnerships and innovation, EFF is committed to creating tangible solutions that not only increase crop yields but also uplift the livelihoods of farmers and advocate for environmental stewardship.
We aim to improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers through initiatives which enable them to live off their farms, put their children through school and eat nutritious food at home.
Promoting the concept of “farming as a business” by introducing marketable, high value cash crops
Implementing agroforestry models that combine climate smart cash crops with food crops
Linking smallholder farmers to input providers, financial services and the market
Stimulating the use of innovative digital technologies for traceability and certification
Collecting data to measure improvements in livelihoods and living income and ameliorate project design if necessary
Supporting farmers in organising themselves, in groups or cooperatives, for better market access and fairer prices