Pearl Capital Partners (PCP), the fund manager of the Yield Fund Uganda, has officially exited its investment in Clarke Farm, a leading agribusiness enterprise in Uganda’s specialty coffee industry. This marks the successful conclusion of a multi-year partnership that significantly advanced Clarke Farm’s operations, sustainability, and impact on smallholder farmers.
Pearl Capital first invested in Clarke Farm in 2019, followed by a strategic follow-on investment in 2022. Over the course of the partnership, PCP provided not only tailored financing but also hands-on business development support. This dual approach enabled Clarke Farm to implement a series of high-impact initiatives aimed at boosting productivity, enhancing climate resilience, and improving market competitiveness.
Key achievements during the investment period include:
- Expansion of a 600-hectare nucleus coffee estate, creating a scalable model for high-quality Robusta coffee production.
- Installation of a 7-tonne-per-hour wet mill, enabling the farm to process both its own coffee and that of its out-grower network, while elevating quality to specialty-grade standards.
- Integration of 2,003 Arabica smallholder farmers into a structured support network, facilitated by village agents and agronomy consultants.
- Production and distribution of high-yielding, disease-resistant Robusta seedlings, helping smallholders improve productivity and long-term farm sustainability.
Dr. Ian Clarke, Director of Clarke Farm, reflected on the value of the collaboration:
Yield Fund’s partnership has been instrumental in unlocking our potential. Their patient capital and strategic support enabled us to scale sustainably while uplifting smallholder farmers and setting new standards in Uganda’s coffee sector.
Wanjohi Ndagu, Co-Managing Partner at Pearl Capital Partners, emphasized the broader significance of the exit:
Our exit from Clarke Farm exemplifies PCP’s core philosophy: combining long-term capital with visionary entrepreneurship to deliver shared value for investors and communities. This success reinforces our belief in African agribusiness as a catalyst for inclusive growth.
The Clarke Farm exit highlights the effectiveness of PCP’s investment strategy, which blends financial support with operational guidance to unlock value in Africa’s agricultural sector. It also underscores the potential of agribusiness to drive inclusive economic development by empowering smallholder farmers and building resilient, market-ready supply chains.
