Business Plan

Summary:

In 2019 DHAN International aims to become involved in agricultural developments and quality improvements of crop and livestock; community building activities and development of saving, credit and insurance either on mutual bases or working with local MFI's and Inclusive (micro) insurers.

Opportunity:

DHAN International was established to spread the knowledge gained through the work of DHAN Foundation in India to other continents. Thus creating the opportunity for South-South learning by sharing lessons learned and experience gained directly from the field.

We found that people may have a different cultural background, however their struggle to come out of poverty, build resilience to climate change and overcome nutrient deficiencies are more or less the same.

We in DHAN International aim to share knowledge acquired within DHAN Foundation, in order to enhance people’s sustenance and source of income.

Problems worth solving and our solutions:

We work mainly in English speaking African countries.

We found that Africa has great potential.

For instance: there are many big rivers. However due to lack of water management the water is wasted in no time. DHAN International will share the knowledge and irrigation techniques to work with water. These competences are acquired in the work with farmers all over India:

https://www.dhan.org/themes/vayalagam.php

Aquaculture is another area of expertise: https://www.dhan.org/themes/coastal.php

Smallholder farmers need to scale up. Need to be entrepreneurs. Need to modernize. Technology is on the side of the farmers: such as apps to diagnose illness and pests in crops. DHAN International will help to improve the food chain and add value in the food processing industry, also to replace the current input of plastic and oil.

New types of food should be stimulated: such as insects and millets. The knowledge acquired in DHAN Small Millets foundation is available for the people in Africa:

https://www.dhan.org/themes/smallmilletfoundation.php

Furthermore knowledge about improving the productivity of livestock is available for farmers who express the willingness to learn. Animals can eat food waste and be raised on soils not suited for crops, stony and dry grounds areas for instance. DHAN Foundation has decades of knowledge to share: https://www.dhan.org/themes/rainfed.php

Execution:

DHAN International is the apex body to involve to share lessons learned about novel crops and value added produce.

In 2019 DHAN International aims to become involved in agricultural developments and quality improvements of crop and livestock; community building activities and development of saving, credit and insurance either on mutual bases or working with local MFI's and Inclusive (micro) insurers.

DHAN International seeks to work on:

• Technological innovation to attract youth into agriculture
• Certify land rights
• Geographic division of special crops. Focus om millets
• Promote improvement of value chain
• Promote added value to agri-produce
• Community building and Self Help Groups
• Savings, loans and insurance either based on mutual risk sharing or working with local providers

DHAN International is actively seeking calls for proposals in Africa. Networking with family foundations based in The Netherlands is another focus point for acquiring assignments.