INNOVATIONS TO EMPOWER SMALLHOLDER FARMERS NEEDED
MORE innovations to empower smallholder farmers to adopt environmentally sustainable practices while boosting economic growth are needed.
This is according to the United States Vice President Kamala Harris after applauding a Zambian Fintech Lupiya, for financing climate-smart agriculture.
Ms Harris stressed the importance of such innovative approaches in addressing the global climate crisis and ensuring food security for future generations.
She said at Panuka Farm which is one of the farms that have benefitted from Lupiya’s funding.
“Here in Zambia, we know almost 80 percent of the farmers are women. And by providing microfinance - which is essentially access to capital - to help women start a farm, grow a farm, and increase not only the productivity in terms of the food production piece of it, but also increase the economic status of their families in their communities,” Ms Harris said.
As part of her ongoing commitment to combating climate change, Ms Harris highlighted the need for international cooperation and knowledge sharing in developing and implementing sustainable agricultural practices.
She expressed her hope that Lupiya’s model could inspire similar initiatives worldwide, helping to mitigate the effects of climate change on food production.
She pointed out the United States support of US$7 billion towards initiatives that provided resilience to small holder farmers in Zambia such as access to finance, insurance and climate information services.
Lupiya is funded by United States-based Venture Capital Firm, Enygma Ventures who have invested more than US$2 million in a seed round.
To date, Lupiya has raised over US$5 million and is raising US$10 million in a Series A fundraising round.