Designing an Agricultural Implement Microfranchise for Women

Patrice Martin of IDEO.org in the U.S. and Devi Prasad Rao from the Arohana Seva Foundation in India will design and prototype a microfranchise system to rent small and mid-sized time-saving agricultural implements for Indian women smallholder farmers to improve their productivity and incomes. The system will be tailored to meet the unique needs of women smallholder farmers, and incorporate financing, training, and equipment maintenance. They will purchase and develop crop- specific prototype kits, including selected equipment and training materials, and lease them to local entrepreneurs who will be trained and supported to launch the microfranchise to rent out the kits.