Tikkun Olam
Ventures (TOV)
Using Israeli AgTech to Help Africa’s Poorest Farmers
In Ethiopia, 90% of agricultural production is done by millions of smallholder farmers who practice traditional but often inefficient methods. They are part of the 1.5 billion people worldwide who live on less than $2 a day. In the face of climate instability, these farmers and their families face further challenges brought on by drought, changes in seasonal crop cycles, and eroding topsoil.
That’s where TOV (Tikkun Olam Ventures) comes in. TOV mobilizes Israel’s innovative agricultural technology (AgTech) and expertise — including Israeli water-conserving drip irrigation, hybrid seeds, and other agronomic best practices — to improve the income and lives of smallholder farmers in Africa.
Launched in 2018 with a successful pilot program in Ethiopia, TOV is now supporting 11,000 farmers across seven regions. TOV’s model has been proven to increase farmers’ yields and income, enabling them to feed their families, save money, conserve precious resources, and expand their businesses. TOV farmers gain access not only to technology and agronomic know-how, but also to finance and market linkages.
TOV works with farmers’ unions, cooperatives, and commercial partners integrating digital finance platforms and training programs that enable farmers to access the technology, seeds, equipment, and onsite technical support they need. A revolving fund program for high quality hybrid seeds is expanding access to this transformative technology. Farmers connected to TOV showcase the benefits of this program to their neighbors, helping to expand the program’s impact, and new programs are targeting women and coffee farmers.
JDC’s decades of experience working in Ethiopia and Israel enable us to match Israeli AgTech and know-how with the needs of Ethiopia’s smallholder farmers who struggle to increase their crop yields and improve their well-being.
The Government of Ethiopia is a key partner as JDC’s TOV program aligns with their nationwide strategic plan to bring change to the horticulture sector. Federal and local agricultural agents and experts as well as students at Ethiopian universities and colleges are being trained in the TOV program and will serve as our boots on the ground for years to come.
TOV partners include: Livelihood Impacts Fund, J. Gurwin Family, CARE, the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture, MASHAV — Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation, and leading Israeli agricultural and tech companies.
