Tough Times Ahead As Food Prices In Kenya Set To Rise – Check The Full Reason

Small-scale farmers in Kenya could face difficulties accessing some agricultural support services if organisations that have been financing digital farming initiatives fail to find sustainable sources of funding.

The concern has drawn attention to the future of technology-driven agricultural programmes, which have helped farmers access information and services that were previously difficult to obtain, particularly in rural communities.

For many smallholder farmers, a mobile phone has become an important source of agricultural information. Digital platforms can help them understand weather patterns, identify market opportunities, access financial services and make better decisions about their farms.

However, maintaining these services requires considerable financial investment, raising questions about what happens when the organisations supporting them can no longer depend on international donor contributions.

The issue was among the subjects discussed during the 10th AgriFin Learning Event held in Nairobi on Friday, October 30.

Participants examined how agricultural technology initiatives could remain operational without relying entirely on external financial assistance.

Prosper Global AgriFin, formerly known as Mercy Corps AgriFin, was among the initiatives highlighted during the discussions. The programme has reportedly reached more than 8.5 million smallholder farmers, surpassing its original target of five million.

Women represented approximately 41 per cent of the farmers reached, demonstrating the programme’s contribution to expanding access to agricultural services.

Despite these achievements, industry players acknowledged that reaching millions of farmers is only one part of the challenge. Ensuring that the services remain available over the long term requires a reliable financial model.

One of the difficulties facing agricultural technology providers is the cost of serving farmers in remote areas, where infrastructure limitations and unpredictable farming conditions can make business operations expensive.

The discussions also explored opportunities for greater involvement by local investors, government institutions and private companies in supporting agricultural innovation.

Technology, particularly artificial intelligence, was identified as another area with potential to improve the way farmers receive information and respond to changing agricultural conditions.

Industry representatives also emphasised the need to establish which digital solutions deliver meaningful results before committing additional resources.

For Kenya, the debate carries considerable importance because millions of households depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.

The sustainability of these programmes could therefore become an important factor in determining how farmers continue accessing information, financial opportunities and other services that support their agricultural activities.

https://www.tuko.co.ke/business-economy/645092-donor-funding-tightening-s-matters-farmers-feed-kenya/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=tuko&utm_content=pp&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAcGRvZgNzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8yNzUyNTQ2OTI1OTgyNzkAAR8lbpY4t3t7g9ko5Va_KU_JhsF27RvspbVqhmRa2mIc6W6l2b0DlNmTe2u6DA_aem_S9MMkib_dzrco4cC5SeD5A