Hi Itika, Thanks so much for your comment! We have now completed all the required sections and have published our submission. We'll use the next few days to make some updates and changes! I'll be sure to reference the Prize Toolkit again - thank you! Best, Katie

Thanks so much for your encouraging words, really appreciate it! Cheers, Katie

Hey Andrew!

Thanks for your great question!

At the moment, we are transporting via 2 methods: 1) via youth networks who are using motorbikes (the youth are also in charge of remote aggregation/bundling of crops & 2) via partnerships with local producer organisations/cooperatives.

We are currently bundling and transporting small volumes to markets, but the cost savings working through our youth networks are great and they are able to transport more than you'd think on a motorbike.

For instance, young people are aggregating and transporting surplus bananas from smallholders in Nandi Hills, Kenya using motorbikes. At the moment each youth can comfortably transport 4 large bunches of bananas at a time for less than $1 (100 shillings). We have rented vehicles from our partner organisations, but this is much more expensive, especially when looking at low volumes (30,000 shillings/month (about $300) to hire a pickup truck for banana transport).

In Uganda, we are also working through youth networks who are bundling surplus produce/crops at the farm gate and transporting to market. Youth are currently transporting 500 pineapples per week and 20 large bunches of bananas per week. As the volumes increase, we'll continue to look into partnerships and vehicle hire from our partner producer organisations.

The smallholders are earning fairer prices as well because they are able to bundle/aggregate their surplus crops/produce (banana, honey, avocado, pineapple etc.) with other farmers and access markets via the youth, rather than selling limited volumes at the farm gate.

I hope that answers your question and thanks so much for writing and taking an interest. We are still going through many learnings, but fortunately have a terrific network of committed young people on the ground supported by great extension teams and Producer Organisations.

Best!

Katie