A Case Study: Outgrower Improves Flower Seed Operations in Tanzania

As part of Action for Enterprise’s “Facilitating the Development of Outgrowing Operations” manual, AFE contracted Match Maker Associates (MMA), a consultancy and training firm based in Tanzania, to develop a case study on MultiFlower Ltd. (MF). MF began small-scale production of flower seeds for Dutch buyers in 1996, initially producing seeds on the founder’s small field and those of a few outgrowers. Since then, MF has increased its turnover tenfold. MF exports a wide variety of flower seeds and currently contracts all flower seed production to around 2,400 smallholder farmers producing about 200 tons of seed on approximately 2,000 acres. 

This case study documents best practices for the successful organization of outgrowing operations, and experiences and lessons learned on how development programs can best facilitate mutually beneficial outgrowing operations between agribusiness companies and farmers.