We introduce you to AgriBusiness Forum Insights, a series of short interviews with a selection of the AgriBusiness speakers who answer 5 questions about their particular field of expertise that they will be presenting in Kampala.
Meet Pierre van Hedel
Managing Director of the Rabobank Foundation
EMRC: In which African countries is the Rabobank Foundation active in 2010 and can you describe your typical customer?
Pierre van Hedel: Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Senegal, Uganda and Zambia. In collaboration with various partners in which we participate such as Terrafina we also work in Rwanda, Burundi, Burkina Faso and Mali.
In line with Rabobank’s own co-operative background, the Rabobank Foundation focuses specifically on establishing and promoting co-operative savings and loan systems as well as farmers' Producers Organisations to stimulate economic development.
EMRC: The Rabobank Foundation supports ‘cooperatives’ - why is it advantageous for smallholder farmers to belong to a cooperative?
PvH: The smallholder farmers can enjoy various advantages:
- more economy of scales
- better access to finance
- influence of the members in management
- solidarity between the group members
- enjoy technical assistance
- education of its members
- stronger position in the value chain
- reaching sustainability
EMRC: What kind of support can smallholders gain from the Rabobank Foundation?
PvH: The support provided by the Rabobank Foundation is focused first on enabling the (economic) development of small co-operatives located in rural regions. This support is provided through donations, loans, trade financing, guarantees and technical assistance. All applications for assistance are also consequently assessed according to criteria that include organic cultivation and processing, fair trade and social performance. This means the Rabobank Foundation looks closely at how an organisation treats its customers and employees, how it measures non-financial results and how it ensures its members and customers have a voice in its operations.
EMRC: This is the 4th time that Rabobank sponsors the Project Incubator Award with EMRC, in what way does this award assist smallholders and entrepreneurs?
PvH: The support the Rabobank Foundation provides to farmers’ co-operatives is aimed at bringing about sustainable agricultural chain development in relation to a select number of crops such as coffee, cacao, fruits and cotton etc. The Rabobank Foundation actively encourages farmers to produce, process and distribute these products in a sustainable manner. This award therefore fits well in the focus of the Rabobank Foundation, as it encourages smallholders and entrepreneurs to be active in Africa in an innovative and sustainable way.
EMRC: What kind of proposals are you hoping to see this year?
PvH: We're particularly hoping to discover cooperative projects that truly make an impact on economic development and food security (local/regional/national level). And whereby value chain partners can be integrated.
The Rabobank Foundation is committed to improving the lives of underprivileged and disadvantaged groups of people in society by providing them with the opportunity to live full and independent lives. This commitment to making a difference applies in equal measure to the activities that the Rabobank Foundation undertakes in the Netherlands and in developing countries. Mr Pierre van Hedel will be a speaker at this year’s AgriBusiness Forum in Kampala Uganda.
Click here to visit the AgriBusiness Forum 2010
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Dr Marco Ferroni from the Syngenta Foundation