What if $25 could change the trajectory of a smallholder farmer's season?
It can. Through Maputo Bridge Capital (MBC), founded by Anselmo Boaventura in Fort Worth, Texas, we connect sponsors directly with verified smallholder farmers in Mozambique. By providing the resources for essential inputs like seeds and fertilizer, sponsors enable farmers to cultivate their land and improve their harvests, with the process documented through receipts and field photos.
Meet Zito Arcanjo Domingos
Zito is 32 years old. He lives in Muaquiua, a village in Zambézia province, Mozambique. He is a member of the COJAZ cooperative, which works with MBC to support 44 smallholder farmers who have access to 500 hectares of land.
His GPS coordinates are -16.70389, 37.37083. You can look up his farm location on digital maps. Zito grows maize, cabbage, cowpea, sesame, and tomato. He has been farming for 5 years. MBC ensures transparency by working directly with local partners in Zambezia, and meet the farmers to see the impact of these connections.
The Sentinel-2 satellite, utilized by the European Space Agency, passes over his farm every 5 days, providing high-resolution monitoring of agricultural progress that helps verify the effectiveness of the support provided.
Where Your $25 Goes
When you sponsor a farmer with $25, here is exactly how the process functions:
| Step | Description | Documentation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $25 donation via the MBC platform | Receipt provided to sponsor |
| 2 | Funds transferred to local seed and fertilizer shop in Mozambique | Transaction confirmation |
| 3 | Farmer collects inputs from the local shop | Receipt and verification |
| 4 | Farmer plants crops on their land | GPS-verified planting location |
| 5 | Satellite monitoring of field progress | Periodic agricultural updates |
| 6 | Harvest season results | Yield reporting and community reinvestment |
No middleman, no bureaucracy. The funds are directed to the necessary agricultural inputs, and the field verification ensures that every contribution is accounted for through documentation. You can learn more about how we facilitate this process at /how-to-help-farmers-in-mozambique.
The $25 Breakdown
- $23.00 (92%) — goes directly to the local seed and fertilizer shop for the farmer's inputs.
- $2.00 (8%) — covers essential field verification, documentation, and receipt management.
We prioritize transparency in how these resources are allocated. Every contribution supports the goal of sustainable farming practices within the COJAZ cooperative. You can read more about the impact of these initiatives on our /blog.
Why This Approach Matters
Traditional approaches to development often involve complex logistics that do not directly empower the local producer. MBC focuses on providing the specific inputs needed for the planting season. By facilitating the purchase of quality seeds and fertilizer, we help farmers improve their productivity, which contributes to food security and income stability for their families. After harvest, farmers contribute to a Community Fund that helps sponsor the next farmer in the cycle.
The Satellite Proof
What makes MBC distinct is our commitment to documentation. Every 5 days, satellite imagery passes over the region of Muaquiua. It captures multispectral imagery that measures NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) — a scientific measure of plant health.
- NDVI 0.2-0.4 = bare soil, typical of the dry season.
- NDVI 0.6-0.8 = healthy, growing crops during the rainy season.
When you sponsor a farmer, you receive updates that show the progress of the crops on the field, allowing you to witness the tangible results of your gift.
$25 plants a farmer's season in Zambézia.
Paid straight to the local seed shop. You get the receipt, a field photo and a harvest update.
A gift, not an investment. Not tax-deductible.
44 Names. 44 Families. 44 Reasons.
Zito is not alone. The COJAZ cooperative in Zambezia has 44 members, all of whom are registered and verified. Here are just three:
- Zito Arcanjo Domingos — Quelimane — Maize, cabbage, cowpea, sesame, tomato
- Alexandre Chico Xavier — Quelimane — Maize, tomato, pepper, cucumber
- Cassimo Rodrigues Xavier Arivo — Quelimane — Tomato, pepper, rice
All 44 are in Zambézia. They are part of a structured program aimed at increasing agricultural output through reliable access to quality supplies. They are ready to manage their fields for the upcoming season.
The Carbon Bonus
When you sponsor a farmer with $25, you are not just buying seeds. You are also helping to support agroforestry initiatives. Maputo Bridge Capital, founded by Anselmo Boaventura in Fort Worth, Texas, works with the COJAZ cooperative in Zambezia where 500 hectares are registered for carbon credit initiatives. When trees are planted alongside crops, they absorb CO2, which can be monitored via satellite verification.
While these initiatives represent potential research directions for future agricultural sustainability, they illustrate the long-term impact of supporting smallholder farmers. The income potential from carbon credits as a secondary benefit for farmers could theoretically look like this over a ten-year horizon:
| Year | Projected Income per Farmer |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | $511 |
| Year 5 | $1,193 |
| Year 10 | $2,045 |
Your $25 doesn't just support a family for one season; it contributes to a model designed to create sustainable agricultural income for a decade.
What You Receive When You Sponsor
- Stripe receipt — proof of your gift payment
- Local shop receipt — proof the money reached the farmer's seed and fertilizer shop
- Farmer profile — name, photo, crops, and GPS location in Zambezia
- Monthly NDVI satellite images — watch the crops grow from space
- Documentation — verification of your contribution
- Harvest report — details on what was grown and the final yields
How to Sponsor
Visit Maputo Bridge Capital to begin.
- $25 — provides seeds for one farmer for one season
- $50 — helps provide PICS hermetic storage bags, which save 30-40% of harvest from pests
- $100 — supports a full farming season including seeds, inputs, and insurance
- $500 — supports a farmer for an entire year
Payments are processed via Stripe. You can pay with any credit card.
The Question
Farmers in Zambezia are preparing their land for the planting season. They have cooperative structure and local support. The primary requirement to begin the season is access to quality seeds and fertilizers.
$25 buys these essential inputs for one farmer.
Will you help a farmer plant this season?
Impact on the Farmer's Season
For a smallholder farmer, this support is critical. By securing seeds and fertilizers before the rains begin, farmers can plant on time, which is essential for maximizing yield. With the addition of hermetic storage bags, they can also protect 30-40% of their harvest from pests, ensuring that their hard work results in more food and higher potential income at the end of the season.
Frequently asked questions
What are PICS bags? These are hermetic storage bags designed to seal out oxygen and moisture, saving 30-40% of a harvest from pest infestations without the need for chemicals.
Why is planting timing important? Farmers must align their planting with the onset of the rainy season to ensure crops have sufficient water to germinate and reach full maturity before the dry season returns.
How does agroforestry help agriculture? Planting trees alongside crops helps stabilize the soil, retains moisture, and can provide secondary income streams while contributing to local environmental health.
If you would like to help a farmer in Mozambique, you can sponsor a farmer from $25. Please note that sponsorships are gifts, not investments, and are not tax-deductible. 92% of your gift goes directly to the farmer's local seed and fertilizer shop, while 8% covers field verification and receipt documentation.