Digital apps boost farming in Kenya

WHEN she wants information on what seed variety to grow, Josephine Mutuku picks up her smartphone, opens an app and types in the name of the crop and its region of cultivation.

Mutuku, 38, a farmer in Kenya’s Machakos county, can choose the seeds and pay via mobile money or take credit, through the app. She does the same if she needs to buy fertilisers, pesticides or any other farm inputs, which can be delivered to her via courier services.

Later on, as the crops grow, Mutuku can learn more about the market of her produce, such as tomatoes, also through the app.

Mutuku is among a growing number of Kenyan farmers who have embraced digital farming solutions that are changing the East African nation’s agribusiness scene. The platforms are delivering solutions to farmers’ fingertips, and experts say they represent the future of agribusiness.

They offer solutions to farmers faster, but also pull the youth into agribusiness, a move that is boosting Kenya’s quest to be food secure.

“Digital farming is the future of agribusiness in Kenya. These technologies are opening up vast untapped potential for farmers, investors and entrepreneurs to improve efficiency of food production and consumption,” Fred Kiio, head of M-agribusiness at Safaricom, Kenya’s leading telecommunication firm, said in a interview.

Kiio said: “With a smartphone, laptop and the internet, perceptions have been changed towards farming, with more young people venturing into it,” he said.

Safaricom is among the companies in Kenya that have invested in digital farming technologies.

“Our platform is called DigiFarm, and is an integrated, free-to-use mobile app offering smallholder farmers access to a suite of information and financial services, including discounted products, customised information on farming best practices, and access to credit and financial facilities,” Kiio said.

Farmers may access e-extension services, quality inputs, credit and insurance, market facilitation and post-harvest loss management.

Kenyan farmers, according to Kiio, face many challenges such as lack of access to finance, information, markets and approved farm inputs.

“Only digital technology has the ability to reach the millions of farmers and deliver these solutions,” he said.

Safaricom’s DigiFarm platform has 950 000 registered members, Kiio said.

There are more than other 20 farming apps in Kenya, and over a million farmers might be using them.

Kenya’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries is running a free SMS service through which farmers can access information. “Signs of fall armyworms attack include tiny holes in the maize funnel, ragged holes on leaves and orange saw-dust like dropping,” one recent SMS read.

“If you find armyworm in your maize, pick and drown them in soapy water. Crush all egg masses, mix ash, sand and apply to the funnel.” |