A partnership rooted in long-term growth
In the highlands of Kivu, agriculture is more than a livelihood — it is the foundation of entire communities.
At Pharmakina, more than 6,000 smallholder farmers are part of a structured outgrower ecosystem that connects rural production to global healthcare. This is not a traditional sourcing model. It is a long-term partnership designed to create stability, predictability, and shared value.
Cinchona cultivation — the source of quinine — is a long-term investment. Trees take years to mature, but once established, they generate multiple harvests over decades. Supporting farmers through this cycle requires more than procurement. It requires a system.
The Outgrower Model: building a stable agricultural system
Pharmakina’s outgrower program is built to align farmer livelihoods with long-term production.
Farmers receive disease-resistant, high-yield seedlings free of charge, along with technical training, tools, and ongoing agronomic support. This reduces barriers to entry while ensuring consistent quality across plantations.
The model is designed around one key principle:
farmers grow with the system — not around it
Through structured collection centers, transparent purchasing, and long-term engagement, farmers are integrated into a reliable and traceable supply chain.
Short-term income: stabilizing households through intercropping
One of the key challenges in long-cycle agriculture is time.
Cinchona trees take years before the first harvest. To address this, Pharmakina supports intercropping — the cultivation of short-cycle crops such as ginger and turmeric between cinchona rows.
This creates immediate and complementary income streams.
Instead of waiting years for returns, farmers are able to:
- Generate regular income during early growth phases
- Diversify their production and reduce risk
- Maintain financial stability at the household level
This “income accelerator” approach transforms cinchona from a delayed-return crop into part of a balanced and resilient farming system
From farming to economic impact
The impact of this model extends far beyond individual farms.
Pharmakina is one of the largest buyers of agricultural produce in the region, and one of its major formal employers. Together, farmers and employees form the backbone of a broader economic ecosystem.
Direct impact includes:
- Over 6,000 smallholder farmers engaged in the supply chain
- Stable income through structured sourcing and long-term contracts
- Continuous training to improve productivity and quality
But the effects do not stop there.
The multiplier effect: how one system supports many livelihoods
Every payment made to farmers or employees circulates through the local economy.
As outlined in Pharmakina’s impact framework:
- Jobs are created in transport, warehousing, and local services
- Local suppliers benefit from contracts and increased demand
- Small businesses grow through increased household spending
Each dollar earned does not stay in one place — it moves, supports, and multiplies.
This is what economists refer to as a multiplier effect:
one income stream supporting many additional livelihoods across the community
From transporters and traders to artisans and vendors, entire local economies are connected to this agricultural system.
A system that connects land, livelihoods, and health
What makes this model unique is its circular nature.
- Farmers cultivate cinchona
- Cinchona enables quinine production
- Quinine supports malaria treatment
- Pharmaceutical activity generates income
- Income strengthens communities
- Strong communities sustain agriculture
This is not a linear supply chain — it is a self-reinforcing system linking rural livelihoods to global health outcomes.
Growing forward, together
As Pharmakina looks to the future, expanding its farmer network and strengthening its outgrower programs remain central priorities.
The goal is not only to increase production, but to deepen impact:
- Engaging more farmers
- Strengthening income stability
- Supporting local economies
- Ensuring long-term supply of essential medicines
Because in Kivu, growth is not measured only in hectares or output —
it is measured in livelihoods strengthened, communities stabilized, and systems built to last.
