One Million Farmers Platform Kenya

Despite Kenya being the digital innovation hub of Africa and home to many of the continent's innovative start-ups on digital agriculture, many of Kenya's farmers have yet to benefit. On April 5-6, 2019, a group of partners, led by the World Bank Group, ran a Challenge competition to identify Kenya's most promising agri-tech innovations to bring one million Kenyan farmers onto an impactful digital platform over the next three years.

Technologies such as mobile apps, data analytics, and digital extension can be used to improve farmers' yields if deployed and scaled effectively dramatically. Technology can enable suppliers to aggregate farmers' demand for inputs like seeds and services like tractors, which can then cost-effectively be delivered to farmers at the farm gate. Other promising approaches include financial services, enterprise development, market access, and data analytics. Given the significant level of World Bank investment in agriculture with the Kenyan government, the application of robust technology solutions can also be a force to accelerate impacts.

The World Bank through two of its existing projects, the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture (KCSAP) and the National Agriculture Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP) is cumulatively investing 450 million USD to enhance productivity, resilience and profitability of the million farmers across all 45 rural counties in Kenya. As part of these projects, there are dedicated analog investments earmarked at the farm level and the producer organization level. In addition, dedicated teams across all 45 rural counties have been recruited and are working closely with the farmers.

Kenya is leading the agricultural technology space, with 30% of DATs located in Kenya. Kenya is also rated as one of the top-rated digital ecosystems on the continent. Kenya's public sector strategies are aligned to the agri-tech agenda. The Government is engaging one million farmers through its existing World Bank operations who could benefit from improved access to DATs. These three reasons made Kenya an ideal location for piloting the DAT Knowledge and Challenge Conference and launching the One Million Farmer Initiative.

Advisory And Information For Agricultural Productivity

This theme covers extension services and Climate Smart Agriculture advisory, as well as the delivery of credible and actionable information in real-time directly to Kenyan farmers to increase productivity. This will help them transition from time, labor, input and resource-intensive practices to more efficient and sustainable planning, production, and management systems.

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DigiCow

A mobile-based service delivery platform is linking small livestock owners to veterinary and artificial insemination services and feed suppliers which aggregates demand as a business enterprise is resulting in a significant increase in milk productivity.

 
 

Digital Green

Uses a video-enabled approach to reach large numbers of smallholder farmers with agricultural extension advisory services in a scalable and cost-effective way for crops and commodities resulting in an increase in crop productivity.

 
 

Hello Tractor

Provides technology IoT hardware and software for tractor owners to better manage their equipment, fuel, and operators while servicing smallholder farmers in need of mechanization services resulting in an increase in crop productivity.

 
 

Farmers Pride

Combines franchise model, technology and village youth agents to bridge inputs, services and information gap among rural smallholder farmers.

SunCulture

Develops and offers solar-powered smart irrigation systems

 

Precision Agriculture

Reaches farmers with personalized agricultural advice through their mobile phones