Most micro financial institutions assess clients and offer credit based on proof of regular salaries or incomes. In such arrangements, smallholders do not qualify because they produce in small quantities. Most of them rely on rain-fed agriculture, making produce unpredictable.

To enhance credit access, FCI designed a market intermediation known as the Commercial Village Savings model. It is a self operated savings approach which introduces a saving culture among members of different Commercial Villages. The smallholders are also linked to markets and these results to regular incomes, vibrant savings schemes and consequently internal and external credit schemes.  

Ensuing partnerships with input manufacturers enable farmers to collectively access farm inputs, leading to quantity discounts of up to 32%. This has consequently reduced cost of production, leading to increased income.

Partnerships with extension service providers has enabled over 100,000 farmers in Africa to receive extension services on a range of issues such as crop husbandry, animal healthcare, natural resource management, and safe handling of agro-chemicals. The findings of a study by FCI on the effectiveness of Commercial Villages revealed that different farmers saved over $3 million.