The Dairy Development Authority (DDA) and Emata partner to bring digital loans to farmers
On September 1st, The Dairy Development Authority (DDA) signed an MOU with Ugandan fintech Emata to support, develop and grow the dairy sector in Uganda.
The dairy sector is a key pillar in the Ugandan economy and contributes to over 50 per cent of livestock GDP in the agricultural sector.?(FAO) The dairy sector is growing fast and is a driver of employment opportunities, rural prosperity, and export revenues.
The MOU will see DDA and Emata partner to roll out Emata's digital solution to dairy cooperatives across Uganda. The collaboration aims to digitize the dairy sector to allow for better monitoring of milk production and increased access to finance.
“We work with dairy cooperatives from their very first day of formation. We see them at their first meetings, electing their first leaders, investing in their first milk coolers. We know their pain, and it is lack of financing. We are so happy to have Emata support our farmers. Because the success of Emata is the success of our farmers. And the success of our farmers is the success of our economy and our country,” said Dr Kansiime Michael, Executive Director of the Dairy Development Authority.
Kenneth Otikal, Principal Planning Officer DDA, added, "The Authority collects routine data on milk production and bulking estimates from dairy farmers and cooperatives. With Emata, we shall have real-time access to the milk collected and bulked by cooperatives on a daily basis. Besides the quick access to financing, this partnership shall improve on milk production and productivity estimation."
The signing ceremony was hosted at the offices of the Dairy Development Authority and attended by representatives from both teams.
Bram van den Bosch, the CEO of Emata, signed on behalf of the fintech.
"Developing agriculture is the key to the future prosperity of Uganda. Through our technology and affordable loans, we accelerate the development of agriculture and bring affordable loans to people that need it most: Ugandan farmers. We are thrilled to partner with DDA and jointly roll out our product to the entire dairy sector," he said.
Product Manager for Emata, Lillian Nassanga added: "This partnership is a wonderful affirmation for the great minds and work that goes into Emata. I am so proud of our team, which is working every day to innovate the way farmers access affordable funding."
About the Dairy Development Authority (DDA)
The Dairy Development Authority (DDA) is a semi-autonomous agency under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF). It was established by an Act of Parliament, the Dairy Industry Act, 1998 to develop and regulate the dairy industry in Uganda. Its mission is to provide sustainable dairy development and regulatory services for increased production, processing, marketing, consumption of milk and milk products.
Learn more: www.dda.go.ug
About Emata Uganda Limited
Emata is a Ugandan fintech startup working to provide affordable, digital financing to farmers in East Africa. Emata provides software to ‘agricultural middlemen’ like cooperatives and aggregators to help them digitise and better run their operations. In turn, the fintech combines the data collected through the system with advanced risk analytics to offer tailored loan products to farmers. By automating the entire process and building on big data rather than documents and collateral, Emata provides digital loans to all farmers, from smallholders to professionals.
Emata is a spin-off of tech company Laboremus Uganda.
Learn more: www.emata.ug