How Digital Technology Is Changing Farming in Africa – Harvard Business Review – Ndubuisi Ekekwe

Very revealing article. So many Digital Solutions for Agriculture Africa I had no idea existed. In as much as African governments need to do more in term of providing the right infrastructure to support Agri-tech solutions and farmers on the continent, there seem to be a disconnect between Agri-tech solution providers and the small scale farmers that are in dire need of these solutions. How can this gap be bridged? Never head of Zenvus before. Just checked it out, great solution! Also, Zenvus needs a social media presence. Solutions like this might further attract millennials to Agri-tech or farming.

https://www.fffzimbabwe.org/ - Brian from Foundations has written a book on the conservation farming approach called The Green Book - Farm Management handbook.

Agree that ag-tech has a large role to play in this. I believe key players in this (small holder farmers in Africa) are disconnected from information and resources. This is where ag-tech and the use of digital/data can be really put to use in helping small holders make the right decision for their plot (soil type, weather, water, crop, variation etc). However, there are other issues where ag-tech may not be of as much use, such as land reforms/ takeovers, as well as initiatives that don't stimulate local economies and only cause them to become dependent on aid. If you can stimulate local economies through farming, you can provide ongoing development towards change, from teaching farmers how to farm in a sustainable way, providing knowledge and support (best practices) through to creating a surplus and entering into the supply chain as a seller. Companies can also involve small holders in their processes, such as aggregating supply from the farm gate. We are working with some great companies who are working to address the above issues. I am not too sure about the approach to addressing land reform issues, or infrastructure challenges, so if anyone would like to inform me that would be great.

At tech is increasingly a need for African agriculture. I think the future of Agriculture in Africa largely depends on the type of agricultural technology practiced. The time is now......!