Agriculture Human Capital Investment (AHCI)
FAO Investment Centre
Investing in farmers – or agriculture human capital – is crucial to addressing challenges in our agrifood systems.
A global study carried out from 2021-2023 by the FAO Investment Centre and the International Food Policy Research Institute, with support from the CGIAR Research Programme on Policies, Institutions and Markets and the FAO Research and Extension Unit, looks at agriculture human capital investments and initiatives globally.
The global study aims to provide governments, international financial institutions, the private sector and other partners with the evidence and analysis needed to make more and better investments in agriculture human capital.
This published series covers learning and experiences in a global report as well as thematic briefs and in-depth case studies in Cameroon, Chile, Côte d’Ivoire, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Peru, Rwanda and the United States of America. It includes a toolkit for practitioners as well as promising cases ranging from pastoralist training centres to the inclusion of indigenous communities.
Investing in farmers: Agriculture human capital investment strategies
05/2023
Investing in farmers – or agriculture human capital – is crucial to addressing challenges in our agri-food systems. A global...
How to invest in farmers? - A guide for agriculture human capital investment projects
04/2023
Investing in farmers – or agriculture human capital – is crucial to addressing challenges in our agrifood systems. A global...
Case studies
Case studies (in alphabetical order): Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, and The United States of America.
Country Investment Highlights
Professionalizing farmer organizations through private sector-led models - Capacity development initiatives in Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire
03/2022
One of the nine featured case studies, funded by the Agribusiness Market Ecosystems Alliance with support from IFAD, explores three...
Country Investment Highlights
Investing in youth vocational training - Professional training programme in the agropastoral and fisheries sectors in Cameroon
03/2022
One of the nine featured case studies is the Support Programme for the Renovation and Development of Professional Training in...
Country Investment Highlights
Institutionalizing farmer field schools: Twigire Muhinzi National Extension System in Rwanda
10/2021
Investing in farmers – or agriculture human capital – is crucial to...
Country Investment Highlights
Rural Empowerment and Agricultural Development Scaling-up Initiative in Indonesia
10/2021
Investing in farmers through public-private-producer partnerships Rural Empowerment and Agricultural Development Scaling-up...
Country Investment Highlights
Collaborating to develop agricultural skills: Capacity building agencies in the United States of America
10/2021
Investing in farmers – or agriculture human capital – is crucial to...
Country Investment Highlights
Motivating farmers' market-oriented production - Smallholder horticulture empowerment and promotion approach in Kenya
10/2021
Kenya’s Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion Approach provides technical and soft skills based on the theory of self-determination. The...
Country Investment Highlights
Jharkhand Opportunities for Harnessing Rural Growth Programme in India
10/2021
nvesting in farmers – or agriculture human capital – is crucial to...
Country Investment Highlights
Strengthening smallholder producers' skills and market access - Productive Alliance Programme in Chile
09/2021
This case study report...
Country Investment Highlights
Investing in rural households through community promoters - The Haku Wiñay/Noa Jayatai programme in Peru
07/2021
This case study report was written as a part of the Agriculture Human Capital Investment Study, funded by FAO Investment...
Thematic briefs
Investing in agriculture human capital - Roles for the private sector
04/2023
The objective of this brief is to assess the role of the private sector in developing human capital among smallholders....
Scaling up investments in agrifood systems for youth in Africa - What policymakers need to know
04/2022
This investment brief highlights the importance of youth as change agents and key stakeholders contributing to sustainable agrifood systems. It...
Smart farmers – Learning with digital technologies
12/2021
Strengthening the skills and capabilities of agricultural producers, especially smallholder producers, to successfully manage their agricultural enterprises requires sustained investment...
Latest stories
Investment Toolkits
Launching a step-by-step guide to unlocking farmers’ potential
05/12/2023
The FAO Investment Centre has launched a toolkit aimed at empowering farmers and enabling agricultural human capital investments. More than 60 representatives...
Investment Toolkits
How best to invest in farmers?
18/04/2023
A new toolkit launching today shows how best to invest in farmers to drive innovation, boost productivity, strengthen farm management and empower smallholders. How...
Investment Briefs
How can governments and the private sector work together to upskill farmers?
05/04/2023
Private sector investors can help to empower farmers and optimise returns by partnering with governments and development agencies, reveals a new FAO...
Investment Briefs
Unleashing the power of young agripreneurs
30/11/2022
Investing in young agripreneurs can help unlock potential within more than 223 million unemployed or underemployed youth in developing and emerging...
Country Investment Highlights
Charting a path towards development and growth in South Sudan
07/09/2022
Despite massive humanitarian aid, South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, ranks near the bottom of the Human Development Index. Since gaining independence...
Different training models show improved farmer productivity and profitability
05/05/2022
Farmers today face profound changes – from climate change, labour shortages and global pandemics such as COVID-19, to an explosive rise in digital...
Evidence from Kenya and Rwanda shows investing in human capital exponentially unlocks farmers’ potential
19/04/2022
Agriculture plays an important role in feeding the East and Southern African countries and other countries the region exports to, as well as in generating...
‘Invest in farmers’ say Asia-Pacific governments, private sector and financial institutions
15/12/2021
At a regional event on agriculture human capital investment, convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World...