Cinch

Rising input costs, climate change, and limited water resources have led to the division of farmland in Sub-Saharan Africa into smaller plots, as running larger operations become too costly for most. In Kenya alone, there are 7.5 million smallholder farmers, with an average plot size of 1.16 acres. Due to a lack of profit and outside investment, these farmers rely on outdated farming techniques. Without irrigation and modern machinery to increase crop cycles, the land remains idle and underused. 

By leasing and aggregating small plots from individual farmers, Cinch transforms fragmented, unproductive land into large-scale farms. By investing in the necessary infrastructure, such as irrigation, Cinch increases harvests of high-value crops, resulting in more job opportunities and greater profitability. This has led to an increase in farmers' annual incomes by three to six times. Cinch also allows smallholder landowners to opt their land into Cinch's platform, which transfers 100% of the risk from the farmer to Cinch. 

So far, Cinch has achieved a 100% retention rate of landowner participation, tripled farmers’ annual incomes, and employed women for 70% of its workforce. With TRANSFORM’s support, Cinch is providing local farmers with the seeds and infrastructure necessary to cultivate a consistent year-round supply of crops, including onions, coriander seed, ginger, and more.

Together with TRANSFORM, Cinch aims to produce over 1,000 tonnes of crops annually.