Our Experience

EcoVillage: Sustainable Development of Small Farmers for High-Value Horticultural Production Egypt and Jordan

Project Description
RAMSCO, an Egyptian company specializing in environmental works and sustainable development, contracted Agribusiness Systems International (ASI) to conduct a feasibility study and develop business plans to determine the viability of taking their pilot project in Ismalia, Egypt, to scale elsewhere in Egypt and Jordan.

The EcoVillage pilot concept is a social and economic development model that helps smallholder farmer groups produce environmentally friendly and safe food products through innovative and sustainable agriculture technologies. The feasibility study served as supporting documentation for both a business prospectus to present to private investors interested in both financial and social returns as well as a concept paper for more traditional development donors and partners.

Project Approach
The feasibility analysis was based on ASI’s specialized market window analysis (unmet profitable demand techniques) that included all world-standard bankable formats for financial measures and indicators as well as a full cost-benefit and social analysis covering value-added effect, employment opportunities, externalities, and reconciliation impacts.

In Egypt, the feasibility study focused on export-oriented, GlobalGAP-certified products as well as those that improve nutrition. They included winter fruits and vegetables, summer crops, and small ruminants. In Jordan the key products are high-quality lavender oil and dried flowers, tree crops, such as grapes and olives for export to EU and GCC markets, and small ruminants.

Impact and Accomplishments
The study’s initial findings indicated that the EcoVillage concept is both a viable business venture and sustainable social development model. ASI’s feasibility report and business plan will be used by RAMSCO to secure private investments and public charitable funding that will improve the lives of an estimated 1,500 smallholder farmers and family members.  

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