In the heart of Kenya’s agricultural landscape, a new player is emerging, poised to revolutionize the way farming is done. Digifarm, a subsidiary of the renowned Safaricom, is on a mission to empower farmers through technology, much like the success of M-PESA in financial inclusion.
Seema Gohil, Digifarm’s Director, envisions a future where technology has transformed Kenya’s agriculture. “Today, everybody can access mobile money on their phone. That is the vision for Digifarm. 25 years from now, I want you to look back and look at how technology will have transformed agriculture in this country,” she explains. With 80% of Kenya’s food coming from smallholder farmers, the need to enable and empower them is paramount, and Digifarm believes technology is the key.
The platform is open to all farmers across Kenya, regardless of their location or farm size. Registration is a breeze, requiring only a dial to *944# on a feature or smartphone, with proof of farming activity validated by a Digifarm agent. Digifarm prides itself on providing farmers with tailor-made digital solutions and services directly on their phones. The platform has two arms: Kilimo and Soko.
Kilimo, the agriculture arm, combines digital technology, partnerships, and farmer services to address the end-to-end needs of smallholder farmers. It offers digital extension services, access to inputs, financial inclusion, and capacity building through training. On the other hand, Soko, the marketplace arm, connects farmers directly to buyers, cooperatives, and processors across various value chains. It also offers market-related services like digital tracking of sales and inventory, sales records that help farmers qualify for future credit, and instant payments via M-PESA.
Safaricom, which has played a significant role in delivering financial inclusion in Kenya and across Africa through M-PESA, now hopes to transform agriculture through agritech. Michael Mutiga, the Chief Business Development and Strategy Officer at Safaricom, emphasizes the importance of supporting the entire ecosystem of farmers. “The entire ecosystem of farmers in this country needs support. Because if farming is nearly half of the people in the country, from an employment perspective, and nearly a third of the GDP of the country, then making sure that farmers are thriving is critical to our success as Safaricom and critical to the economic success of the country,” he says.
For farmers, Digifarm promises to be a simple and trusted digital companion. For banks, agribusinesses, and related stakeholders, it aims to be a platform with data, scale, and direct access to millions of farmers. Meanwhile, for Safaricom, Digifarm is a key cog in the telco’s mission to be Africa’s leading purpose-led technology company by 2030.
The implications of Digifarm’s mission are vast. By empowering smallholder farmers with technology, it could lead to increased productivity, better access to markets, and improved livelihoods. It could also attract more youth to farming, ensuring food security and economic stability in the long run. As the platform grows and evolves, it will be interesting to see the transformation it brings to Kenya’s agricultural landscape.